2.5 stars. This book was mediocre at best. The MCs (Myra and Dylan) and their interactions were unbelievable at times. Also, they weren't terribly lik2.5 stars. This book was mediocre at best. The MCs (Myra and Dylan) and their interactions were unbelievable at times. Also, they weren't terribly likable--Dylan was mostly a jerk with anger management issues, and Myra was a spineless ninny. Yes, N-I-N-N-Y. I don't think I've ever called someone a ninny in my entire life, but that is what she was.
BUT, the characters weren't the biggest problem for me. I have this pet peeve about books . . . it only seems to happen in indie books (at least I can't recall it happening in a traditionally published book). Anyway, this pet peeve concerns when a major question presented at the beginning of a book is still unanswered at the end of the book. I. Hate. This. I'm not talking about will they/won't they (live HEA?). I don't particularly care for that either, but at least that's somewhat expected, especially if the book isn't a stand-alone. But no, I'm talking about the fact that Dylan has been traumatized by something in his past, and this trauma is the root of his behavior. The root that explains his thus far inexplicable behavior. The root that brings the story full circle, so that you can look back and understand the. whole. fricking. story.
Yeah. That question doesn't get answered. It's set up to be answered in the next book in the last few pages of this book, but can you really trust that? I mean, it seemed like the author was setting up for the answer at least half a dozen times (that's the only reason I kept reading), but never actually got around to it. Maybe she'll just keep putting it off in the next book too. Who knows?
Merged review:
2.5 stars. This book was mediocre at best. The MCs (Myra and Dylan) and their interactions were unbelievable at times. Also, they weren't terribly likable--Dylan was mostly a jerk with anger management issues, and Myra was a spineless ninny. Yes, N-I-N-N-Y. I don't think I've ever called someone a ninny in my entire life, but that is what she was.
BUT, the characters weren't the biggest problem for me. I have this pet peeve about books . . . it only seems to happen in indie books (at least I can't recall it happening in a traditionally published book). Anyway, this pet peeve concerns when a major question presented at the beginning of a book is still unanswered at the end of the book. I. Hate. This. I'm not talking about will they/won't they (live HEA?). I don't particularly care for that either, but at least that's somewhat expected, especially if the book isn't a stand-alone. But no, I'm talking about the fact that Dylan has been traumatized by something in his past, and this trauma is the root of his behavior. The root that explains his thus far inexplicable behavior. The root that brings the story full circle, so that you can look back and understand the. whole. fricking. story.
Yeah. That question doesn't get answered. It's set up to be answered in the next book in the last few pages of this book, but can you really trust that? I mean, it seemed like the author was setting up for the answer at least half a dozen times (that's the only reason I kept reading), but never actually got around to it. Maybe she'll just keep putting it off in the next book too. Who knows?...more
This was a huge disappointment for me, but I’m not the target audience, so my dislike doesn’t immediately equal your dislike.
1. It’s magical realism.This was a huge disappointment for me, but I’m not the target audience, so my dislike doesn’t immediately equal your dislike.
1. It’s magical realism. Which I did not know before reading it. Not my favorite.
2. It’s meant to portray this epic love, but in reality it’s more of an I’m-broken-and-you’re-equally-broken-so-we-might-as-well-be-broken-together love. Same and not the same.
3. This is ultimately a story about a horrible, selfish, narcissistic little rich girl.
There is a pretty spectacular twist in the end, so if you’re a magical realism human and awful humans are your favorite, this one might be for you....more
On the one hand, I’m kind of glad that I found this installment of the STAR WARS canon to be so completely mediocre: it provesReviewed by: Rabid Reads
On the one hand, I’m kind of glad that I found this installment of the STAR WARS canon to be so completely mediocre: it proves I’m not some maniacal fangirl that loves all-the-things without regard to factors like relevance or lack of ingenuity.
On the other hand . . . Ugh.
LOST STARS is the (love) story of Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree, two very different people (in an extremely ordinary way) from the outer rim of the Empire. Thane is the proverbial rich kid, and Ciena is the girl from the valley (heh).
BUT.
They both want to fly more than anything.
So lurve. *rolls eyes*
Beyond the lackluster romance, LOST STARS did nothing to further the STAR WARS story. It covered the events from the original trilogy, albeit from the perspective of Imperials rather than rebels, but still . . . Not a single revelation.
The main theme seemed to be: the Empire is Bad.
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I might have found Ciena’s unique cultural perspective interesting, if I didn’t also find it obdurately prideful—I have no use for people who don’t recognize that rules only work so long as everyone follows them. You gots to roll with the punches, Dollface.
Thane I could relate to, but in a generic damn-the-man kind of way, so meh.
The secondary characters were pretty MEH as well, mostly from lack of development. Of Thane’s two roommates, one transformed into an Imperial zealot as a coping mechanism, and the other vanished after graduation beyond a brief nod to some apparently clever engineering.
Ciena’s friends had more potential, but one (view spoiler)[died in the destruction of the first Death Star (hide spoiler)], and the other was woefully neglected.
The characters weren’t the only area that lacked development: why exactly did Thane’s family loathe him? At one point, Thane himself muses that being born was his unpardonable sin, but that merely highlighted the lack of illumination on the subject. But the kind of alternate neglect and abuse he suffered at his family’s hands isn’t arbitrary . . . So what’s the deal?
Maybe Gray left it a mystery so she could address it in the follow up novel that the final chapters of LOST STAR seemed to be setting up, but no such sequel appears to be in the works.
Verdict: PASS. Unless you like YA romance and can appreciate cultural differences without being frustrated by them, in which case, go for it.
What was that? (view spoiler)[You think you can let a naked woman claim in bed with and grab your dick, but you eUgh.
Ughhhhhhhh. *throws book at wall*
What was that? (view spoiler)[You think you can let a naked woman claim in bed with and grab your dick, but you eventually toss her out, so no harm, no foul? (hide spoiler)] Eff you, dude. Efffff youuuu.
And that's just the most obvious issue. This thing was CRAP....more
I spent the majority of the last two days bitching and moaning about this book. I have the Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
2.5 stars
I . . . am a fickle broad.
I spent the majority of the last two days bitching and moaning about this book. I have the screenshots to prove it:
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I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I hated THE TURN right up until the very end.
Literally. The very end.
The last four pages are what kept me from one-starring this book.
You: Whoa, one star, that's really bad.
Me: Yes. It is. Typically reserved for horror shows of books like Red Queen and Winter.
You: Why were you going to one star THE TURN?
Me: So. Many. Reasons.
1. The first 40% could've been condensed into, oh, around 5 - 10%, leaving us with a surplus of I'm-a-female-scientist-in-the-1960s-hear-me-RAWRRRR stuff and nonsense that was ultimately pointless given the outcome of the book.
You: What does that mean?
Me: If you want to know, you're going to have to suffer through it, same as me. #notevenalittlebitsorry
2. Drama Queen, thy name is H A R R I S O N.
As you've undoubtedly gathering from the above screenshots, Harrison's prolific use of cliché phrases and sentiments was a great source of amusement/disdain.
There were peaks and valleys, but I never made it more than a few chapters without some variation of this happening:
And then her ears exploded as the hand of God reached down and slapped her.
Or, you know, there was an explosion. *shrugs awkwardly* Certainly not an everyday occurrence, but "the hand of God"?
Pfffffffffft.
3. I hate this story.
Harrison could have written a book about a tragic accident, the perpetrators rife with the guilt of what their tampering with nature had wrought. She could have revealed to us how a small-minded man sought the ruination of a competitor and unwittingly unleashed a plague on humanity, his avarice equaling his DOOM.
She could have told told us any number of tales with any number of satisfactory outcomes.
Instead, she gave us a story of the hapless and the narcissistic and zero accountability.
Booooooooo.
BUT.
Those last four pages. *gnashes teeth*
I hated Kal.
Hated.
Hated, loathed, despised, and abominated.
Justifiably too. The man was a stubborn stupid blind megalomaniac who, albeit accidentally, (view spoiler)[slaughtered somewhere between one-fourth and one-half of the world's human population.
And refused to accept responsibility for it. Then found a way to profit from it.
Then with a glance and few well-chosen words, Harrison had me wanting to believe he could be a better man.
Whiskey . . . Tango . . . Foxtrot . . .?
No matter how messed up my reaction, Harrison was the one who elicited it, and that was nothing short of miraculous.
Also, the additional background on dark elves (of the brunet Quen variety) vs. light elves (blond-haired, green-eyed Trent Kalamack of HOLLOWS fame) was interesting.
Maybe the distinction was made in THE HOLLOWS, but if it was, I don't remember it.
Also, also, there were those periodic moments of brilliance that kept me reading THE HOLLOWS loooooong after I'd lost patience with Rachel Morgan:
“His horse’s nostrils flared when he was angry, and his ears? His ears showed his mood, which was mostly bad, so they lay flat against his head.” April clutched her glass unicorn to her. “Did he hurt April’s horse?” she asked. Trisk shook her head, and even the boys at the fire relaxed. “No. Princess April wouldn’t let him, but the prince wanted her to come with him. He gave her presents, and food, and kittens."
And so . . . I am a fickle broad.
Not really recommended, but I won't blame you if morbid curiosity draws you down this infuriating path.
BLACK CITY SAINT was one of my most anticipated new UFs. With a description involving Fae, dragons, and prohibitionReviewed by: Rabid Reads
DNF at 16%.
BLACK CITY SAINT was one of my most anticipated new UFs. With a description involving Fae, dragons, and prohibition era Chicago, how could it not be?
However . . . A lot of you already know that I majored in English, more specifically literature, and even more specifically, British literature. Most of my required reading was wonderful.
Most.
But after Chaucer's TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, my least favorite work was Spenser's THE FAERIE QUEENE. It was terribly boring, and oh so very loooooong.
Guess which book BLACK CITY SAINT has as its foundation: THE FAERIE QUEENE.
Holy knights and dragons and cat-eating wolfy changelings and BLAH.
The story itself had tremendous potential, even after I figured out (no hard task, the hints were obvious) that George was indeed St. George, but 16% felt like 40 - 50%, and I'm finding that I loathe plots focused on a cursed individual forced to relive the death of his reincarnated One True Love over and over again.
Contrary to my assumption, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was not a YA fantasy. If I'd bothered to read the blurb, I would've knownReviewed by: Rabid Reads
Contrary to my assumption, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was not a YA fantasy. If I'd bothered to read the blurb, I would've known that, but what can I say? Old habits die hard.
What it is is a paranormal/mythological/post-apocalyptic/dystopian mashup.
Sounds cool, right? And a lot of readers, particularly those still in their teens, will probably really like it.
Me? No such luck.
For starters, I'm not a big fan of the shy, reluctant heroine type. It always rings false to me. Little mouse girls who aren't comfortable with themselves or their abilities don't get books written about them, b/c they don't do anything worth writing about.
Timidity and diffidence do not breed heroic acts.
So when I'm confronted with a heroine who is all of those things, it feels contrived. If that had been my only issue with Joy, I might have gotten over it.
Guess what?
It wasn't:
Everybody with even a tiny little bit of magic gets taught at the Monastery; there aren’t many who have as much as me . . .
Yes, she's SUPER special. But she's too busy being admirably self-sufficient to care about that:
“Popular?” I repeated. “What’s popular got to do with anything?” “People love watching him Hunt,” said the steward, sounding puzzled. “Don’t you—oh. I guess you don’t watch much vid out there—” “We’re kind of busy,” I pointed out dryly. “We have to hunt and grow our food for ourselves. And make our own clothing from wool, hemp, linen, and ramie. And cut the wood to heat our houses. And—”
*pats on back* *congratulates* *offers to set off fireworks, but is declined b/c wasteful*
Her SUPER specialness extends to her dogs, too:
Not all Hounds can, but mine do.
And with all this awesomeness floating around, of course it can't help but positively impact others around her:
Mark laughed at that. Funny thing, he was laughing a lot more since he and I had partnered up.
Soooo funny.
Her Country Mouse looking down her long nose at City Mouse, b/c "I'm wearing my drab hunting garb, b/c on the (perfect) Mountain we don't have exotic *ahem* unnatural dyes, and, my, I bet those heeled shoes must make your back hurt, but they certainly are pretty," attitude felt incongruent with her, "I just want to live a quiet life helping others as best I can, but thanklessly and out of public view, thankyouverymuch," game face.
This problem was compounded by the heroine's occasional direct comments to the reader . . . The phrase "two-faced" springs to mind. Especially when such an allegedly altruistic person thinks to herself:
Suddenly my palms were damp and I was more nervous than I’d been facing down that Mage. After all, all he could do was kill me horribly. These people... they could make me look stupid.
It's good to have priorities.
Then there's this:
I wanted to scream, but I held it in. Hunters don’t scream. Not when we’re startled, not when we’re terrified, not when we’re hurt. Not when we’re dying.
Got it. No screaming. Ever.
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But this is fine:
I sighed and finished my cup of yummy goodness, and wished I could Summon Bya back through again to cuddle up with.
Yeah, all the badasses drink hot chocolate and call it "yummy goodness."
The warm drink had finally made me sleepy, and it wasn’t private enough here for me to curl up and have a good cry about being sent away from everyone I knew.
And nothing wrong with wanting to cuddle up with your dog for "a good cry."
TOTALLY different from screaming.
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Beyond my intense dislike of the heroine, the world-building was shoddy--it felt like a poor imitation of Panem.
I had similar issues with the plot: Joy leaves her mountain home where the people had REAL problems for the superficial and frivolous Capital at the behest of the corrupt government.
There are also the beginnings of a love triangle, but Boy #2 has a girlfriend, so maybe I'm mistaken . . . *snickers*
The writing was almost as bad as Joy (which probably had a lot to do with my dislike of her). When she wasn't finding ways to unobtrusively point out her SUPER specialness or stereotyping/contradicting her position in society, she was peating and repeating previously addressed information or stating the obvious.
*adopts lecturing tone*
When facing an opponent out-of-control with RAGE, you can use that RAGE against them. Like a weapon in your hand made of their RAGE. To turn their RAGE against them. Like a weapon.
A smaller person can use her larger opponent's size and momentum against them. It's all about leverage. So just b/c someone is bigger than you, doesn't mean you can't beat them. You just have to know how. Using energy. And leverage.
Othersiders don't like the cold. That's why everyone back home on Mountain is safe. B/c Mountain is cold, snow on its peak all year, so the Othersiders can't attack them b/c it's cold.
Speaking of Mountain, Joy really wishes she was at home. She can’t go back, b/c running away would draw attention to Mountain which would be bad b/c SECRETS, but she really, really wants to go home. If there was any way for her to return to Mountain, with her tiny room that is plenty big enough for her, she would totally do it.
*bangs head against wall* *repeatedly*
And once again, I'm nearing my self-imposed word limit. I had half a dozen other issues as well, but almost all of them can be attributed to Heroine's constant nattering and sanctimonious inner monologue. On the rare occasion she was actually doing something, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was fairly entertaining, but considering that accounts for maybe 20% of the book . . . Not recommended.
Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁
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