Unpopular opinion, but I did not enjoy this book. I pushed through to finish it just to finish it, not because I enjoyed it. I found this book was morUnpopular opinion, but I did not enjoy this book. I pushed through to finish it just to finish it, not because I enjoyed it. I found this book was more of the same and really offered nothing new to the world or the overall story arc. Too many stereotypes and tropes. I skimmed a lot of this book and missed nothing because it's predictable with lots of filler. I felt like many scenes were there just to fill out enough pages to make a third book.
I guess my biggest issue with this series is that humans are the same in heaven as they are on earth—selfish, insecure, petty, jealous, etc. One would think that being in heaven would provide one with some level of spiritual awareness. Clearly not based on the MC, who seemed even more juvenile in book 3 than at the start of book 1. She doesn't learn. She almost regresses. It was completely annoying.
I liked the premise but was ultimately disappointed by this trilogy. 1.5 stars rounded up to 2. ...more
Fantastic. The premise was intriguing and the book delivered. From the first chapter, I immediately loved Claire:
Claire lived by the firm moral philo
Fantastic. The premise was intriguing and the book delivered. From the first chapter, I immediately loved Claire:
Claire lived by the firm moral philosophy that one could never have too many pockets, too many books, or too much tea.
The idea that unwritten stories exist in their own library that's in hell, but not completely a part of hell. And that librarians are normally deceased mortals who once were these unwritten stories authors. So imaginative!
The world-building was fantastic. Like Gaiman's American Gods, the book posited the idea that all religions/pantheons exist, and that their power is tied to human beliefs. And even if the human believers are no longer alive, an aspect of that religion may still exist and all are tied to each other. While this book does center more on the Christian belief structure (heaven and hell, God and Lucifer), it definitely showed that other pantheons, other belief structures exist.
And the character building was incredible. While each chapter is told from a certain character's POV, it's incredibly well-balanced against the whole of the story. This is one of the best uses of multiple POVs I've ever seen. So flawless as you read from chapter to chapter. And there are some twists and turns that while I knew something was coming, I didn't know quite what. I won't say more so not to give away any spoilers, but I loved the build-up and thought the various character points were so well done.
Overall, I enjoyed it so much that I basically read it in one day. (I technically started it yesterday, but only had time to read one chapter. So I read all but one chapter today.)
This is truly a book dedicated to stories.
Whenever she read a book in a binge, cover to cover in a day with little break, she always found it stuck in her brain like a haze. The narrative voice stuck with her, and for a bit after, it was always like a waking dream, living someone else's thoughts. The book haunted like a ghost in her head, coloring moods until she shook herself from it.
I loved it. 4.5 stars. I can't wait to read the next one to see where it goes....more
I have mixed feeling about this book. On the one hand, I overall liked the premise—fighting demons. The character development and world building were I have mixed feeling about this book. On the one hand, I overall liked the premise—fighting demons. The character development and world building were generally good. But on the other, it was a bit too steeped in Christian dogma and got a bit preachy near the end. It also had a few too many YA stereotypes. I am debating whether to read the next book in the series. I may give it a go, but if it’s too preachy, will probably DNF it. ...more
DNF’d. I made it through chapter 5 of 16. First, the title is misleading. A better title would be Why Mindfulness Meditation is Important. Or simply uDNF’d. I made it through chapter 5 of 16. First, the title is misleading. A better title would be Why Mindfulness Meditation is Important. Or simply use the subtitle as the title.
He spends a lot of time talking about his silent meditation retreat and how he learned to do mindfulness meditation. He then attempts to explain his premise by using what he learned at said retreat. However, it failed for me. Maybe it’s the narrator, but the material is not just dry, it’s arid. Plus, this really wasn’t what I was expecting based on the title. This is all about mindfulness meditation and less about Buddhism except as to the meditation. Either way, I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe I’ll try again at some point in the future, but with a paper copy....more