"You don't understand," the woman said. "There are many things anyone could do. Each person is faced with infinite possibiliBlog | Twitter | Instagram
"You don't understand," the woman said. "There are many things anyone could do. Each person is faced with infinite possibilities. It doesn't matter why you choose one or the other, or why life draws you one way or another. What matters is not why, or what exactly, but your choices along the way. Perhaps any girl could have done it. But not all of them would have done it."
As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Review also posted here.
Before you look at my lower rating and think, "Oh. It's not worth it." remember that taste is subjective. While my 2.5 star rating may seem off-putting or even intimidating to you, just remember that not everything is bound to be everyone's cup of tea. Further, note that at the end of the day there were a lot of elements I really loved about Karina's Silver Shoes and that ultimately it was a very unique tale that is perfect for middle grade readers!
Earlier this month, I had a very similar problem with The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy in the sense that it just wasn't my favourite read. In the case of Karina's Silver Shoes, I do think that--perhaps--I was merely out of the targeted age range. I was charmed by a lot of things--the uniqueness of the plot, the magic, the fact that it was unlike any YA I've read in recent memory and of course the character of Karina herself.
So what went wrong with it? That is the question.
But I don't want to imply that there was anything directly wrong with Denise Marques Leitao's prose because there genuinely was not. I thought her writing was velvety smooth and there were a lot of plus sides to it and the story. It's neither the pacing nor the prose rather, the worldbuilding and the lack of development in its characters that made it less than appealing for me. Aside from Karina, I felt like I knew little about any of the characters or the very realm that she travels too.
While the scenes were pretty full of action--there were a lot of qualities that were mundane and lack-luster. Cayla, Nia, Dorian, Ayanna, Lylah, Sian, etc, didn't feel altogether alive. Not in the way that Karina did. I cannot stress this enough--while this isn't necessarily a horrible trait for YA fantasy, or in particular, middle grade fantasy, it just wasn't living up to what I can sense the story--the writing--was capable of.
There was this odd sense of choppiness that came with certain things in Karina's Silver Shoes that was keen on contributing to my lack of attachment to, well, anything. And the ending seemed a bit rushed and open-ended; a bit unsatisfying for my preference. I'm not certain if there are planned sequels on board, but it didn't feel like where the story should end. I just felt like it could have been more--that Denise was only just getting started on it and the realms and what happens next, you know what I mean?
Ultimately... Karina's Silver Shoes didn't hit the right mark for me. That doesn't mean it's bad or that it is a book you should avoid. I definitely think a lot of younger readers will love the novel and its general path of mystery, magic and a journey of a lifetime.
**It may make them want to buy a pair of magical silver shoes. ***Seriously, Karina--hit me up with your YARD SALE LUCK, GIRL....more
(3.5, probably going to get changed to a 4.) As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided in exchange for an honest rBlog | Twitter | Instagram
(3.5, probably going to get changed to a 4.) As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Review also posted here.
WOW. Just, wow. Now, I know that my 3.5 may throw you off when it comes to my 'wow'--I have to say that I did enjoy this novel quite a lot. That isn't to mean it didn't have flaws. It just so happened the flaws are pretty mundane in comparison to the emotional punch that the rest of 23:27 was and that listing the flaws would be, well, pointless. Because if there's one thing that I loved most about Roberts' novel it was how captivated it was when it came to how it makes readers feel. Hint: it's a lot. You feel a lot, kids.
I guess now that that is out of the way, we can get down to business. What made the novel as compelling as it was, besides the seriously powerful prose that H.L. Roberts possesses, was the characters. Take Lilith, for instance. Lilith is by far my favourite part of this whole book. Characters like Lilith (that is to say utterly stunning in all their complexities) are what make literature a treat to read. Lilith, ultimately, makes 23:27 and takes it to a whole other level.
That being said--I actually genuinely cared and was invested in the other characters, too. Roberts writes a set of characters that are easy to feel drawn to for various reasons--a trait that is very, very necessary to creating anything.
Her characters become captivating in the most emotional way possible, not unlike that of Krista and Becca Ritchie's characters. You feel for them. You just do. There's literally no way out of it and you kind of want to talk to them.
Okay, that sounded a little weird when I put my thoughts to words but I feel like that's one of the most intense feelings in literature. When you just feel them coming to life and want to talk to them. Explain things. Shake sense into them. Hug them. Whatever--the post is, Roberts' characters have that essence of life that makes storytelling more than important and less than fiction.
I also appreciated the way the novel unfolded. It got better and more tense as you read it. I felt a great deal about it by its end and that's what makes it so brilliant. A true writer knows how to develop and capture the reader when they least expect it. Roberts does so gracefully and leaves you feeling every-thing, including a sort of gutted exasperation at times that nearly reduces you to tears.
Overall, this was a very compelling novel and not at all what I was expecting. I loved the pacing and how it tripped me up on several occasions. Frustrating and warming me. Kind of like getting punched, kind of like getting kissed. I can't explain it better than that.
Something about it is echoing in my mind.
Basically, if you're looking for something that tangles emotions and music in your next read--do yourself a massive favor and pick up 23:27. You won't regret it....more
Review also posted here. As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for Blog | Twitter | Instagram
Review also posted here. As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.
What a year it has been for our beloved Anne Shirley! L.M. Montgomery's classic tale, Anne of Green Gables, has recently been adapted for a new generation in 'Anne With An E' (currently streaming on Netflix) and now a brand-new graphic novel, adapted by Mariah Marsden and illustrated by Brenna Thummler, is set to further win the hearts of new and old readers alike. Anne Shirley has charmed generations of readers--and that feeling is no different in the graphic novel.
One of the things that always gets to me about Anne of Green Gables, is that feeling of whimsy and spark that came with the original tale. Luckily for us, this translates beautifully both on screen and in this new release. I've always felt that the sign of a good novel is that, upon reading it, it feels equally new and familiar all at once. Anne of Green Gables has always felt like a piece of home to many of us and to see it treated with such respect, easily wins our hearts. In fact, Anne and Green Gables are just as they ever were. It is a delight seeing the story explored in such a heartfelt and vivid way; you don't have to be a fan or a young reader to enjoy this adaptation of it.
Importantly, it makes you feel so much for it and the themes that are portrayed. Seeing the words put to tone with new illustrations--an entirely different view of the story--feels real and right. There's a lot to be seen and being able to put these images together with the story itself just feels like it should. It feels like home. It feels like we're experiencing these familiar elements only with new eyes. The vision behind it is incredible and just as you'd hope for it to be.
It's no easy task to breathe life into a classic story and to illustrate it in a way that will appeal to new readers and those who've spent virtually their entire lives growing up with this story. But Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel rises to the occasion and takes us to a place of beauty, whimsy and life. As soon as you begin it, you can see the care that was put into accurately adapting this delightful tale--it's captured the very essence of Montgomery's world with a graceful ease and leaves readers feeling captivated.
I adored the vibrance of seeing Anne Shirley in this format and can only hope to see more. There's so much soul in the original classic and, somehow, this one matches it squarely. I loved Anne of Green Gables as a girl and I love her still. One of the best adaptations of the year and full of some of the loveliest illustrations yet. I can't wait to buy a copy for my friends daughter--she is at that age where it's about time she met Anne Shirley.
No one could have placed so much heart and respect into Anne Shirley as this incredible team....more
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect mBlog | Twitter | Instagram | As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Review also found here.
"You're going to make me scream in the library."
I'll let your imaginations go wild with that one simple line from Dirty Little Secret, the beginning of Kendall Ryan's all-new series Forbidden Desires. In all honesty, I'm clawing my way towards the sequel already because holy crap I need it now. NOW. If you were wondering, yes, Ryan's latest is full of so much desire the following might happen:
-Reader could spontaneously combust. -Pages are likely to catch fire. -Cold showers are the new cuddle-fest. -Proceed to anticipate the next release with your favourite comfort food. -Pine over the follow-up.
I mean. Phew. PHEW! Can I use the fire emoji for a sufficient review or is that not how this works? I'm kidding. Mostly. I really do see only fire when I think of this bloody book and that's, well, as swoon worthy as it is infuriating. I love it. Kendall Ryan, you outdid yourself with this book. I can't stress that enough. You just reignited my interest in the genre and I'm pretty much in love with Emma and Cooper. And Emma and Gavin.
Where's my own Cooper? That's such an unusual question for me to ask since I never ask 'oh my God, where's my [fictional character's name]?' ever. At least, not since I was a preteen and just read Gossip Girl for the first time and totally wanted a Nate Archibald. But sincerely--where's my own Cooper? I nearly fainted over how attentive he was and how much he cares about his brother and Emma. AND WHEN HE CALLS HER PRINCESS?
Sorry. I'm a little emotional. Yikes.
Emma was, naturally, my favourite character in this bad boy. I think she's one of the most coherently developed leading ladies I've read in ages (since, perhaps, the Addicted and Calloway Sisters novels by the Queens: Krista and Becca Ritchie) and I kind of want to cuddle her? All you have to do is say "librarian" and I'm probably stumbling through the door already. She's smart as hell, hot as hell, has a heartbreaking backstory that packs an emotional punch, and has some serious backbone.
In short, she's developed beautifully. Which isn't necessary missing from the genre, it just so happens that Kendall Ryan develops her characters in the way that literature is meant to--they're flawed, we get to know them, their complexities and their desires in real time.
Which goes to say the same for Gavin.
Ah. I have a love-hate for him? He's such a prickly little dweeb. I can't believe I just called Gavin a dweeb, yikes. However, that's the first title that came to mind with him. I'm not sorry. At all. Gavin is a bit (see: a lot) of an Alpha Male. He has a lot of dimensions to him like all good characters should, even as they border on that gray area of, "Should I like them?" What makes this work with Gavin is that in all his wrongs, we see something at his core that is more than a mystery and definitely real. I like the glimpses of his lighter side that we saw, and the layers to his backstory, and think that he has the potential to be developed even more in depth.
In Kendall Ryan we trust.
There's this undeniable chemistry between him and Emma; this is where the novels soul is. Dirty Little Secret's biggest energy source is in the characters, their backstories and their sexual chemistry. Best of all, not a single plot-line overpowers another element of the story. It's all balanced in a way but still leaves you dangling.
I'd love to know more about Emma's life in the future installments. Obviously. More on her past with an abuser, more on her friendships and job. I'd like to know more about Gavin, Cooper and Quinn. I think the Kingsley brothers are going to be the death of me and are my newest obsession.
Overall, definitely my favourite romance of the year! I'm panting (yikes) over NEEDING the sequel and this entire series right the heck now. I can't believe I said heck and how all over the place my review is. I'm just kind of a pile of mush over this beauty and I'm still processing THAT cliffhanger of an ending. Yes, Kendall Ryan is now one of those rare authors who may as well just have direct access to my bank account when it comes to new releases. Agreed?
All I can say is that Kendall Ryan has left me steamed, a little confused (the good kind) and I've lost five pounds since closing it because I'm pretty sure those five pounds have melted off into a puddle at my feet.
You think I'm kidding? I'm not. Dirty Little Secret did that. It successfully went where a great many romance/erotica novels stumble. This was, without a doubt, one of my favourite new romances for the year and one of the smartest, steamiest. If you can only take one sentence from my review, it's that this is my favourite. Also... buy it. Romance fans will adore every last minute of this gem....more
don’t shrink your truth to make it fit nice and neatly in others as if it’s origami.
unfold and free yourself.
As a note, an e-galley of this novel don’t shrink your truth to make it fit nice and neatly in others as if it’s origami.
unfold and free yourself.
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.
K.Y. Robinson knows what makes poetry. This much was apparent in The Chaos of Longing and I'm so incredibly moved by what she portrayed. She dives deeper and deeper into parts of her soul and gives us this intimate look inside. Something that is not always possible. Yet, here it is, that reminder that it's not impossible to feel connected to someone else's words. Much like with Depression & Other Magic Tricks, Milk and Honey and The Princess Saves Herself in this One, Robinson crafts something so obtainable and wonderful, I could not put the collection down.
To say that The Chaos of Longing was beautiful and one of my most beloved collections of poetry this year would be an injustice. It was so much more than that. I hadn't read the previously published edition of this, but when I read the blurb--I just had to. You know that feeling of an instant connection? I had that. I had that before I opened it. I had that the first line I read. I had it long after the final poem had passed my by.
For me, there's nothing more stunning than this collection. It takes a special talent to express themselves and scatter emotion throughout the pages of a book. But for them to do it in poems? That's some sort of otherworldly magic. I'm here for everything that K.Y. Robinson writes. She's got a stan for life. I can't tell you guys how much I loved this powerful little guy without sounding like an incoherent weirdo, but know this: I rarely feel this connected to poetry.
I can't wait for the finished copies so I can highlight the heck out of it.
I am going to be hungover from the prose. Just so we're all clear. ...more
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. Review also found here.
Nostalgia, I'm ready for you! A blast from the past, this dive into the Archie Archives is just as trippy and fun as you expected. It's a total must-have for anyone who is looking for a bit of cheery fun and lifelong Archie Andrews fans will surely enjoy this bit of time travel. I've been a fan of Archie all my life--the good, the bad, the classics, the modern. If I've had access to it, I've definitely read it and tripped over myself somewhere in the process.
Is this going to be appealing to all Archie fans? No, probably not. As someone already said, a lot of the stories haven't particularly aged well. Times are different and there's definitely going to be a share of cringe-worthy moments to those who look closely enough. Still, it is fun to take a step into the past of Archie and read up on some classic stories and strips many have not had the chance to read. It's old fashioned fun and a total treat to those looking back into the extensive history of Archie Comics....more
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinioAs a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. Review also found here.
Although it has its rough patches and a lack of unpredictable revelations, The Truth We Bury was a very compelling and thought provoking read that kept me glued to its pages. Certainly not my favourite or least favourite book of the year, Barbara Taylor Sissel crafts a twisty tale of questions and mystery. Most important to note is the way that it tackles PTSD and the emotional tugs it provides reader from start to finish. I find that the realistic approach it took towards a lot of mental health and the complexities of human emotion was refreshing and, at the end of the day, the biggest plus about the novel itself.
Told in two points of view, we really get to know the characters on a highly intimate level and to see the contrast of each of them as well as the past and what we imagine the future might hold. Full of secrets, mystery and intrigue--The Truth We Bury tackles more than just one plotline and genre, tangling up the reader and the story until many will lose track of their own reality. To me, that's what reading is all about.
I loved the element of truth and consequence and the question of what would you do if your child stood accused of a horrendous crime. Especially when that child is on the run. Where does the innocence lie? Where does it not? Does it exist? What happens next?
Much like earlier this year with Sibel Hodge's novel Beneath the Surface, readers will be left turning the pages with questions of their own and a different insight/view of the mystery than the characters featured in the thickest of plots. A fun, quick and chilling read that will fast become a favourite amongst many....more
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ThisBlog | Twitter | Instagram
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. Review also found here.
After the shocking end--that death, that cliffhanger--in the stylish and intriguing first installment of Katharine McGee's dazzling series, The Thousandth Floor, I was completely and utterly hooked on what comes next. Although I was deeply saddened by the death of one character (who, of course, happened to be my favourite) I knew I had to get my hands on all future installments.
Between The Thousandth Floor and Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians series, the Gossip Girl hole in my literature-loving heart is being filled slowly but surely. I'll start off by saying that Katharine McGee has this undeniably smart, sizzling and steamy (so much S!) quality to her writing that is fun and compelling. It's intelligent and mysterious. I feel instantly captivated by it and maybe a little nostalgic.
Reading The Dazzling Heights felt like I was reuniting a part of myself that had been long MIA. I anticipated the release not unlike I used to for new books in the Gossip Girl, The A-List, Pretty Little Liars and Private series. I have been waiting for this one for so long (a year can seem like a long time, okay?) and McGee did not disappoint me in the least. She hooked me from the first moment and it felt like no time had passed at all since I picked up the highly addictive first book.
Picking up almost immediately where The Thousandth Floor left off, The Dazzling Heights is just as stylish and fun as the previous installment. This time, we are witness to more emotions and scandal.
How are our main characters facing their lives in the aftermath of what happened at the end of The Thousandth Floor and what comes next as lives begin to tangle together tightly after one fateful night? You guessed it: drama. Fireworks. Heartbreak. New additions. New lives. New scandals. And of course, a lot of complexities in the lifestyles of the rich and bored teenagers of this futuristic NY.
I loved how the story developed further on the previous book. All elements of it were explored and built upon. I'm not saying that it was perfect or unique or whatever else you want to look down on YA for, but it was entertaining and fleshed out quite a few of the characters more. Plus, I enjoyed the fact that Eris' presence is still infinite in the story and that Rylin becomes more entangled in this world. She and Watt were two of the biggest the outsiders in the previous book. After the night that everything changed, they are thrust deeper into the others' lives.
I do wish we had seen more of Calliope and her mother's backstory. I thought the introduction of these two was really fun and needed to spice things up in the narration. We have a gap where Eris was and while the leads are all fun it was just a spot that needed to be filled. Another thing I wished for would be a deeper look into Leda's addiction and how Mariel is really coping after Eris' death. I can't complain, though, because this didn't break the novel in any way.
Long review short: The Dazzling Heights is highly entertaining and will certainly quench readers' thirst for a good old fashioned scandalous-rich-kids-in-action romp. Katharine McGee is a total queen....more
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | (4.5) As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does notBlog | Twitter | Instagram | (4.5) As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Review also found here.
Isn't the cover for this novel so deliriously gorgeous and creepy? I love how out of focus and dark it is, that hint of colour just a blur of mystery--much like the novel itself. Penned by Lisa Regan, Finding Claire Fletcher is one of my favourite finds this year due to its content and superb writing. There were times when the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Regan really captivated me with this one from the get-go and the brief summary leaves no questions to whether or not this is a must-read. It just is.
There's something so utterly compelling about crime novels. Whether they're fiction or non. They get under your skin. They take you on this hugely emotional journey and keep you pinned to the page because you can't help but want to solve it by yourself. Or at the very least, witness the resolution of it on its own. In the case of Regan's novel, it's fiction--with parallels to real life cases, I'm sure. The fact that the big plot-line in this is circled in on a mysterious cold case that is years old is all the more appealing to fans of the genre.
Lisa Regan paints a startling tale that is terribly chilling and something you just can't put down. From the discovery of a lead (ahem) all the way to the victim reliving the last decade of her life, there's never a moment where you don't feel your gut twisting for one reason or another. What's so very striking about Finding Claire Fletcher is the horrors that feel almost too real for readers and the road we take from then on out. There's so much intensity in this novel that you can't help but to gasp or sit the novel down, here and there, just to breathe a little.
The tone and pacing is incredible. I had chills the majority of the time because the way that each minute passes is tense. Every page is packed with emotion, pain and tension. It's impossible to not feel anything during Lisa Regan's mind-blowing novel. Definitely one of my favourite reads this year.
Finding Claire Fletcher is a must-have for readers who enjoy a thriller or mystery. It's fast paced, spooky and all around impossible to forget. I loved it, and so will you....more
As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my oBlog | Twitter | Instagram
As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Review also posted here.
Despite what my 3.5 rating says, I liked The Homecoming far more than I disliked it. While it had its flaws and a sort of slowness to it in spots, I liked the complexities in it that reflected family life and one massive mystery. Alan Russell crafts both topics into a tale of... well, everything. It can be very thrilling to read.
One of the first thoughts that comes to mind was how... odd (delightfully so) this novel could be in its prime. I expected something a bit different than I got and that's what reading is all about. Surprising yourself. The Homecoming was often this: a surprise. A mystery. A story that unfolds in a gritty and--at times--shocking manner. Russell portrays the roughness of its exterior quite well; making his mark on a reader as they flip the pages. A lot of it's "can't-put-down-ness" (is that even a phrase?) is pulled off well only because of the way Russell pens the story.
It also has this dark tone that leaves questions in the air even as the pages fly by, leaving it in perfect taste for readers to wonder and maybe even hope for a second installment of it.
Because of the best and most frustrating parts of the story is how many questions you still have, even as you develop the answers you needed. There was something deeply fascinating and frustrating about this. If you're a reader who loves novels of madness that get under your skin, The Homecoming has hints of that--it troubled me, in ways, how it made me feel by the end.
I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing.
Overall, it is a deeply conflicting novel that will make readers think and question at all turns. Thrilling and impossible to put down. Alan Russell is anything but predictable and it's oh-so-delicious....more
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ThisBlog | Twitter | Instagram
As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. Review also found here.
(3.5* stars)When Emily Holleman first released Cleopatra's Shadows and the galley found its way to my mail box, I just knew that Holleman was someone to watch in the world of historical fiction. While The Drowning King, the second in her Fall of Egypt series, is less compelling to me than the previous installment; there is something utterly astonishing about the way that Holleman crafts this passage of time and history. What's for certain, is that she captures it all vividly and doesn't slack out on research like many others in the genre.
Tricky as it can be to navigate history and turn it into something both realistic and fictional, Emily Holleman is the rarity of modern authors who can express so expertly. Truly, the tales she weaves are bold and telling without watering down the aspects of who these names were once upon a time. Coherent and woven bluntly--that's what you need to know about her prose. All you need to know, before picking this up, is that Holleman does not play around.
Despite the respectful manner in which she approaches these stories, she tells her own tale. It's that mix of history and fiction that not everyone will love. Many will hate it. Many will love it. I can't explain it beyond this. For many, it will be hit or miss. I find that all historical fiction is as such.
But that being said, if you, like me, are highly fascinated by specific eras in history than the entire series is crafted just for you. There are inaccuracies and yet the utmost respect for reality. There are still liberties in the genre and one should note the embellishments taken. The Drowning King is highly entertaining and full of life. I wish there had been more to it, is all.
The Ptolemys hold a certain kind of intrigue and always will. This is a good, old fashioned historical fiction that doesn't hold a candle to history but still gives readers an escape to the pages of the past as well as a whole new view of things. Part entertainment, part education, there is something about it that clicked with me....more
“Do anything you must, but keep me forever.” As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the puBlog | Twitter | Instagram
“Do anything you must, but keep me forever.” As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. Review also posted here.
For quite some time, I've heard about Tiffany Reisz and her prowess when it comes to erotica. I'm a bit picky when it comes to what I read of the genre, and romance in general, so I often took these recommendations with a grain of salt. When I came upon a galley of this latest novel by her, I took a chance and I'm so very glad I did. I own several of her books at the recommendation of others but have yet to really stick it out with one. I will say it now: The Red sold me 100% on her works.
You've already heard how absolutely filthy The Red is but none of it comes to close to the experience of reading it. If ever there were an "I need a cold shower" read that breaks through your own boundaries and desires, it's this one. Reisz pens a crisp and clear tale of sexual awakening and it's full of taboos that you'll find either arousing or uncomfortable. I doubt very much so that there will be a gray area when it comes to The Red because it's that book. I so rarely find myself blushing from erotica or literature in general, but on many occasions I was squirming and flushed from the content of this book.
That being said: HOLY HELL. Reisz is not a lackluster writer by any means. In fact, this is probably the most cohesive and intelligent erotica release I have ever come across. I tend to only like them for the steam and fluff, without feeling compelled or attached to the characters and their lives (I am not saying every release in the genre but you get the idea) but I was so heavily invested in Mona by the final pages of the book that I didn't want to say goodbye.
I absolutely loved how Reisz worked mythology and artwork and twined it with lust, the haze of sex and letting yourself go, and so much more. The fantasy of it. The dream of it. The raw. The bizarre. The ecstasy. It was all so very intense that I can't imagine it having ended in any way than what it had; even if I had not seen everything coming my way. If you had told me I'd be peak interested in such a novel only a few months ago, I'd have probably laughed straightaway and wandered off in boredom. Yet, in all its squeamish qualities and unlikeliness to myself, I was utterly captivated and heated throughout.
The Red won't be for everyone. Beyond the content of all that smut, there are many qualities that simply won't be everyone's cup of tea and that's not something you can work around. Its plots outside of sex and art, too, won't always be everything a reader desires. It's not everyday you read a book about a young woman exploring sex in the manner that Mona is: to save her mother's beloved gallery. Aka, selling herself to a man she barely knows in an effort to get out of debt.
(Mona is such a bada*s though! Her reaction to Sebastian during one specific scene was EPIC.)
If you are, like me, always searching for boundaries to cross and something to test yourself on, something beyond the ordinary, this is going to be for you. I was constantly shocked, surprised, scandalized in the best of ways. Even I didn't fully see that ending until it snuck up on me and knocked me out. I'm officially in love....more