Favourite Quote:He pulls back, grins, and she is just young enough to mistake this feeling - this rough, violent swell - for love oRating 3.75 stars.
Favourite Quote:He pulls back, grins, and she is just young enough to mistake this feeling - this rough, violent swell - for love or something like it.
Wow, Cargo is such a breathtaking story. I wasn't quite expecting so much emotion from this book. My heart is still feeling a little raw and tender after finishing it.
Cargo is a real and honest read that captures the lives of three teens Gillian, Frankie and Jacob set in an Australian beach side town, the year 1992. It is a quick read at just 200 pages told in alternating chapters between these three characters who aren't friends but yet their lives are intertwined. While it captures some blissful moments of life as a teen and it really focuses on those heart aching times.
Jessica Au's writing is stunning. Her prose is gorgeous and is full of emotion. She makes every sentence sound beautiful.
The window grates open under her hands and the breeze is a shock of cold across her cheeks. When the horn calls for the third time, she feels the sound like the lowest note of a tuba through her ribs. She can just make out a lone cluster of lights that might be carrier navigating the darkness. Welded steel on great tracts of open water: she reminds herself that there have been swimmers who have crossed these same distances, some not much older than fifteen.
The characters are compelling. They each deal with issues that we all struggle with as a teen and you can really feel their angst and pain. While each of their stories held my interest, Gillian's point of view was my favourite. Completely absorbing and moving. It really got under my skin and nearly brought me to tears a couple of times.
Overall, Cargo is an impressive debut that is full of heart. Jessica Au is definitely an author I hope to read more from....more
Griffin Rising is quick and enjoyable read that is filled with plenty of laughs, action and adventure and heart warming moments.
Darby Karchut's writiGriffin Rising is quick and enjoyable read that is filled with plenty of laughs, action and adventure and heart warming moments.
Darby Karchut's writing style was easy to read despite the changing narration. It went from the present to past and also there was also journal entries from Griffin, Basil and occasionally Katie. The pacing flowed wonderfully and it is the type of book that you can just relax into. The plot is also had a good balance of paranormal and coming of age story. However sometimes I did lose a little interest when I put it down but I am not sure if that was was more of a case of me than the actual story. It felt younger than what I normally read and that was what I struggled with throughout the story.
Griffin and Basil are entertaining and endearing characters. I love their witty banter and their relationship was the highlight of the book for me.
“And what does your father do?” Man, even the dad’s good-looking, she thought. “He’s an angel. So am I.” Griffin grinned. “Cool, huh?” “Wh …what?” “We’re a type of angel. My dad and I.” He straightened and flapped his arms up and down to illustrate his point. Dropping a spring roll back into the sack, Basil reached over and pinned Griffin’s hands to his side, yanking him away from the door. “What the bloody he … heck are you doing?” he said under his breath. Smiling, he continued loudly, “my apologies. It’s only a silly family gag, miss. Please ignore him.” Basil elbowed Griffin further down the hall, trying to ignore his snickering. “Well, we’d best let you get back to work. Thank you.” He nodded good-bye and shut the door on the bewildered girl. Gathering up the bags in one hand, he turned with a scowl. “Hey, it’s just a joke.” Still laughing, Griffin flapped his arms a few more times as he lead the way to the kitchen, the salty sweet aroma of chow mein wafting around them. “Wave them again, and I’m duct-taping them together.”
There is also a tiny bit of young love in this story that was super sweet.
Overall, a good solid debut. Darby Karchut is definitely an author to watch out for....more
Favourite Quote:Blake titled his head at her as if she was a particularly tricky problem to solve. Their eyes locked, and for one delirious moment WiFavourite Quote:Blake titled his head at her as if she was a particularly tricky problem to solve. Their eyes locked, and for one delirious moment Winter had the sense again that Blake wanted to kiss her. It was an irrational, impossible, wonderful instinct - an instinct her body reinforced through its reaction. Flushed with heat, her pulse quickened, and everything stood out in exquisite detail. The stars in the sky, Owl Mountain, a tooth of darkness in the distance, a stray lock of Blake's hair stirring in the breeze, the sensual curve of his lips, and his eyes. Most of all his eyes.
Isn't that quote gorgeous? Winter's Shadow is a dark and appealing read that is so beautifully written. It's pages are full of intrigue and mystery that make it hard to put it down.
Hearle writing is hypnotic. He has a great eye for details especially when it came to describing the setting.
Through the broken pane of the stained glass window she could see the remnants of an ancient graveyard, all but hidden by the tall grass and weeds that had crept in from the surrounding woods. Blackened tombstones rose above the grass here and there like strange fungi, weathered by the elements and the passage of time. Standing over of the graves, dressed in a simple gray suit, was a young man.
The pace starts very slowly, maybe a little too slow in the first half but it does pick up and then you find yourself completely captivated by this tale. The plot is refreshingly different from other paranormal reads out there. Hearle has certainly created an interesting and unique concept that is full of dark and eerie secrets that gently unravel ensuring you are kept in suspense until the end.
Winter's Shadow is mainly told from Winter's POV. We do get flashbacks to 1878 and Blake's narrative briefly that allows us to understand the story better. Both Winter and Blake are likeable and well crafted characters. However, Blake would be the standout out character for me. He was a complex and alluring character.
The ending was satisfying but at the same time wanting more. I am left hoping there is more to Winter's and Blake's story.
Overall, Winter's Shadow is a strong debut novel. It you are looking for an exceptional paranormal romance that is smart, spellbinding and original than you shouldn't miss this.
Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. It wasn't the writing but rather the subject matter. I just found it a little to disturbing for my taste. I am Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. It wasn't the writing but rather the subject matter. I just found it a little to disturbing for my taste. I am normally okay with gritty and powerful reads but for me it doesn't really work in this particular dystopia setting.
Darkness Becomes Her is a well needed refreshingly different young adult paranormal read. From it misfit bunch of characters to its Rating: 3.5 stars
Darkness Becomes Her is a well needed refreshingly different young adult paranormal read. From it misfit bunch of characters to its action packed plot, it was very unique and completely intriguing.
From page one it is pretty much just go, go, go. Fast paced with a thumping narrative. It is dark, edgy and a little creepy. The story is a mix of mostly mythology with touch of paranormal. Sometimes I got lost with the history and everything else going that I had to go back and re-read parts. Something was off with the flow of this story for me. But the mysterious plot that had me hooked kept pushing me through those moments that I struggled.
My favourite element of this story is the characters. Distinctive, well rounded and fascinating. Ari is strong, smart, independent and doesn't take any crap for anyone. When all hell breaks lose she doesn't stand back and worry about what to do she gets in their and kicks some butt. There is a whole gang of misfit secondary characters in this story that I adored especially Violet. She is a wonderfully odd little character but certainly one that gets into your heart.
Their is a touch of romance. Ari and Sebastian act on attraction pretty quickly but they didn't pretend it to be something is wasn't. It certainly wasn't sweet but rather some sizzling chemistry . I am very curious to see how their feelings will grow and change (hopefully into something with meaning) in the next installment.
Overall, Darkness Becomes Her is a solid debut novel that has left me curious to see what is coming next in this original and imaginative series.
Thanks to Simon Pulse (S&S Galley Grab) for providing me with a copy. ...more
Hmmmmmm......what to say about this book. XVI was an okay read. The premise is interesting and thought provoking but also a little too distrubing for Hmmmmmm......what to say about this book. XVI was an okay read. The premise is interesting and thought provoking but also a little too distrubing for my taste. The writing lacks that emotional connection to care about the story unfortunately. The pacing was okay with only a few moments that dragged at the beginning. I like the friendship and also the family relationship in this book. They were the highlight of the story for me. Overall, this whole 'sex-teen' thing wasn't really my thing but it wasn't a bad read. Rating - 2.5 stars ...more
Hmmmmmm, please excuse my review. I am not quite what to say about Haven. Have you ever read a book, while reading it enjoyed it but as soon as you fiHmmmmmm, please excuse my review. I am not quite what to say about Haven. Have you ever read a book, while reading it enjoyed it but as soon as you finished completely forgotten about it? Well that is Haven for me. It was good but it just lack that something special, there is nothing really to make it stand out from all the other the young adult paranormal romance reads.
The things I enjoyed :
- The mystery and all the hidden secrets. I love trying to figure out every little secret and enjoyed being surprised when I was wrong.
- The writing is a style that reads easily and makes you want to keep turning the pages. I couldn't believe how quickly the 400+ pages flew by.
- Haven had some unique elements to it's story. Cook added some interesting twist to the paranormal element (which I won't say what it is, would hate to ruin the surprise).
- I love interesting chapter names and Haven had plenty with titles like 'Cue the creepy music' and 'Down the Rabbit Hole'. It set a nice tone for what to come.
The not so good for me:
- Alot of scenes for me were too much like other books I have read before. For example- being the new girl and walking into class where the mysterious guy that has ignored every other girl in school can't stop staring at you scene. Authors I think it is time for a different meeting place!
- The character while I liked them they were forgettable. They lacked something special. Aidan was the typical dark brooding mysterious type and Violet was the normal new girl at school.
- Aidan and Violet's romance was that instant, intense, deep can't live without you type of love. It didn't work with the characters going constantly going back and forth. One day they are together the next they are not. I didn't understand how they could love each other so deeply yet not want to be together.
Despite it's flaws I think Haven will have a lot of fans and I think this series has potential. I am certainly up for giving the second book in the series a go...more
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