Author: A. K. Leigh Release Date: 26th February, 2015 Series: Stand Alone Genre: Romance | Mystery | Fiction | Adult | adult Edition: Kindle Pages: 314 Publisher: Momentum (Pan Macmillan) Source: NetGalley
Books Reviews (by Author)
Here you will find book reviews listed as per an alphabetical author list.
Book Review: Cube Sleuth
Author: David Terruso Release Date: 7th January, 2015 Series: Stand Alone Genre: Mystery | Fiction | Dark Comedy Edition: Kindle Pages: 307 Publisher: Full Fathom Five Digital Source: NetGalley
Book Review: Blondes, Books & Bourbon (ARC)
Author: R. M. Ridley Release Date: March 13, 2015 Series: None Genre: Urban Fantasy | Crime > PI | Anthology | Magic/Elementals | Paranormal Edition: mobi Pages: 21709 (kindle pages) Publisher: Xchyler Publication Source: Author (Thanks a lot Mr. Ridley!)
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: Blondes, Books & Bourbon (ARC)
Book Review: The Lupane Legacy (Joshua Denham and Devon Kerr #1)
Author: Darby G. Holladay Release Date: September 1, 2014 Series: A Joshua Denham and Devon Kerr Genre: Thriller | Mystery | Fiction | Political Edition: mobi Pages: 3441 (kindle) Publisher: Manor Minor Press Source: NetGalley
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Lupane Legacy (Joshua Denham and Devon Kerr #1)
Book Review: Almost Adept
Author: Olga Godim Release Date: January 5, 2014 Series: None Genre: High Fantasy | Romance | Young Adult | Magic/Elementals Edition: mobi Pages: 4339 (kindle pages) Publisher: BURST Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks a lot Olga!) Buy it here: Amazon
Book Review: The Bone Treaty (Seal Of Solomon #1)
Author: T.C. McKee Release Date: August 1, 2014 Series: Seal Of Solomon Genre: Fantasy | Paranormal > Angels/Gargoyles | Young Adult | Urban Fantasy Edition: mobi Pages: 3853 (kindle pages) Publisher: BookFish Books Interest: Requested by Publisher Source: Author (Thanks a lot Erin and Tammy!) Buy it here: Amazon
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: The Bone Treaty (Seal Of Solomon #1)
Book Review: Impervious (Ascension #1)
Author: Heather Letto Release Date: March 19, 2014 Series: Ascension Genre: Science-Fiction | Dystopian | Young Adult | Post-Apocalyptic Edition: mobi Pages: 316 Publisher: BookFish Books Interest: Requested by publisher Source: Author (Thanks a lot Erin and Heather!) Buy it here: Amazon
Book Review: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Author: Richelle Mead Release Date: April 10, 2008 Series: Vampire Academy Genre: YA | Fiction | Paranormal-Vampires | Contemporary Pages: 327 ISBN NO.: - Publisher: Penguin India Preceded by: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) Followed by: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)
Continue reading ➞ Book Review: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Book Review: Pet Sematary
Author: Stephen King Release Date: January 1, 1983 Series: None Genre: Thriller | Fiction | Paranormal | Horror | Adult | Fantasy | Zombies | Suspense | Dark-Fiction Pages: 465 ISBN NO.: 978-0-340-95146-0 Publisher: Hachette India
Blurb
The house looked right, felt right, to Dr. Louis Creed. Rambling, old, unsmart and comfortable. A place where the family could settle; the children grow and play and explore. The rolling hills and meadows of Maine seemed a world away from the fume-choked dangers of Chicago.
Book Review: Skive
Author: Paul Adam levy Release Date: April 19, 2014 Series: None Genre: Dark-Comedy | Fiction Edition: mobi Pages: 114 Publisher: Self-Published Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks a lot Paul!) Buy it here: Amazon
Blurb
Skive is a black comedy that introduces a dysfunctional man who, disillusioned with his boring, hum drum life working in a supermarket, is thrown into panic when an unexpected opportunity is offered to him. Suddenly, he feels trapped in a life he wishes to escape.
Book Review: Exotica (Nightshade cases, Ep-2)
Genre: Crime | Paranormal | Thriller | Episodes
My Rating: 5+1/2 out of 6
Read my review of Exotica at JC’s Book Haven.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
Blurb:
Bodies wash up on the Silver City beach all the time, but this one is different. Detective Geraldine Meyers is hot on the case, with help from medical examiner Dr. Rachel Hunter and anthropologist Dr. Kinsey DanAllart, uncovering the truth behind deaths at a popular new nightclub. Will they deduce a logical explanation for the murders? Or will the three friends uncover a deeper conspiracy hiding the truth about what’s stalking their city’s streets?
Welcome to The Nightshade Cases, a series of twenty-one episodes in twenty-one weeks. Please note: this episodic series is based on the television show model, with screenwriting notations and shorter formats. There will be a complete mystery each week, with cliffhangers only occurring in the full season story line.
Book Review: Shadow Cursed
Author: Gelo R. Fleisher Release Date: March 21, 2013 Series: None Genre: Fantasy | Fiction | Paranormal Edition: mobi Pages: 110 Publisher: Self-Published Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks a lot Gelo!) Buy it here: Amazon
Blurb
Bolen is a thief, plying his trade under the spires of an ancient and sprawling city. Worried that he’s growing too old, Bolen has lined up a risky job, just to prove that he can still pull one off.
Tonight, he’s going to break into a nobleman’s vault and help himself to its contents. What he doesn’t know is that inside is the key to a secret as old as the city itself.
Kings have killed for it, demons have coveted it, priests have prayed for it, and in a few moments it will be in his hands. And when it is, the adventure of his life will begin.
Review
Positives
Shadow Cursed is a beautiful tale of a thief named Bolen and how he lands in an unexpected situation and ultimately overcomes it. The character of Bolen is developed beautifully and I felt the connection with him almost instantly. The plot is quite simple but it’s simplicity is quite mesmerizing! It might sound weird but this book had an odd satisfying feel to it, the way fairy tales have on children. It made me feel that the world is a good place and that it’s not as wicked as we believe it is. This book made me feel like a child who is just hoping for a good ending throughout the entire read. I wanted to see Bolen happy at the end more than anything.
This book had me under it’s spell and that too a really fine one! It has some really good surprises which makes it a must read for everyone.
Negatives
None.
Conclusion
Shadow Cursed is a powerful short and simple read. I’d recommend it to everyone who loves to read a fine book.
You can also read this review at Goodreads | Leafmarks | Booklikes.Other Stuff
Opening Line: “All through the city, the first signs of daylight made themselves known.”
Highlights: Simplicity of the plot.
Low-lights: None.
Memorable Quote:
But laying there, looking out over the city, he felt content. He was happy, truly satisfied for the first time that he could remember. He’d done something worthwhile, something that would last after he was dead and gone, and that felt good. “I don’t know what comes next. Maybe it doesn’t matter.”
Final Thoughts: A beautiful story.
Book Review: Girl Nevermore
Genre: YA | Contemporary | Dark-Fiction
My Rating: 3 + 1/2
Read my review of Girl Nevermore at JC’s Book Haven.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
Blurb: Last week, Cooper Mesa was a quiet, studious bookworm.
This week, she feels unworthy of love or forgiveness.
When Cooper’s twin sister, Kayla, tries to end her own life, Cooper blames herself. If only she had paid more attention…
Desperate to understand her sister’s decision, Cooper starts down a dark path, discovering her own inner turmoil. Losing herself is easy, but finding a reason to live is becoming impossible.
Book Review: The Mine (Northwest Passage #1)
Author: John A. Heldt Release Date: December 6, 2013 Series: Northwest Passage #1 Genre: Science-Fiction > Time-Travel | Historical-Fiction | Fantasy | Adventure | Romance | NA Edition: mobi Pages: 316 Publisher: Not known Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks a lot John!) Buy it here: Amazon
Blurb
In May 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can’t use, money he can’t spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of swing dancing and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.
Review
Positives
The Mine is the best time-travel book I’ve read in a really, really long time! It’s a brilliantly written book and the strong and realistic characterization will definitely blow your mind. Joel Smith, the lead, is such a gentleman and is just so adorable that I really can’t praise enough. You can feel the connection, with Joel, develop over quite a few pages but once he time-travels and starts his new life, you’ll start understanding him better and better with every page you turn. Joel is my new favourite time-travelling character. He is everything a stud, time-travelling brilliant and smart guy should be. He handles the fact, that he has indeed walked into a time-machine and come 59 years before his time, pretty well and starts acting accordingly.
Among the other characters, Ginny really stands out. She is this amazing women whom you really idealize and start respecting instantly. John has left a lot of big authors far behind in the race when it comes to character building (atleast for me!)
The plot is amazing and develops slowly in a very subtle way. It ends beautifully and leaves you craving for more and more. From the historical point of view, as far as I know, John has paid very close attention to the details which is highly commendable.
Negatives
None!
Conclusion
The Mine is a beautifully written book and definitely a must read. I’d recommend it to everyone, particularly the fans of Time-Travel, Science-Fiction, Adventure and Historical-Romance. Trust me, you really don’t wanna miss out on a wonderful book like this one!
You can also read this review at Goodreads.Other Stuff
Opening Line: “Joel eyed the remains and laughed at the animal that had caused the carnage.”
Highlights: Excellent writing and perfect characterization.
Low-lights: None.
Memorable Quote:
“Beneath that delicate exterior is a strong, resolute woman who does nothing halfway. Never take her for granted and never underestimate her. She will amaze.”
Final Thoughts: The best time-travel book I’ve read till date!
Book Review: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
Author: Richelle Meade Release Date: August 16, 2007 Series: Vampire Academy Genre: YA | Fiction | Paranormal |Vampires | Contemporary Pages: 332 ISBN NO.: 978-0-141-32852-2 Publisher: Penguin India Followed by: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Blurb
She must be protected at all times from the fiercest and most dangerous vampires of all – the ones who will never die.
Rose Hathaway is Lissa’s best friend – and her bodyguard.
Now after two years of illicit freedom, they’ve been dragged back inside the iron gates of St. Vladimir’s Academy. The girls must survive in a world of forbidden romances, a ruthless social scene and terrifying night-time rituals.
But above all, they must never let their guard down, lest the immortal vampires take Lissa – forever…
Review
Positives
Vampire Academy is a brilliant and fresh take on Vampires. I absolutely loved the story-line and the characters were out-of-the-world good. Richelle’s writing (in first person) and the subtle plot- development absolutely blew my mind off. This book is definitely a page turner. It’s intriguing plot kept me stuck to it day and night! This book is painstakingly good and I’ve already got it’s sequel issued from my library.
Talking more about the characters I’d like to say that the leads, Rose and Lissa, have super contrasting personalities. On one hand Rose is bad-ass, impatient, reckless and sassy and on the other hand we have Lissa who is classy, delicate, patient and graceful. For me, Rose Hathaway is the best female lead character after Katniss Everdeen. Being a damphir, absolutely nothing can stop her from saving Lissa from even the tinniest of harms! Their friendship and bond were the best thing about the whole story!
This book is what I really needed to rouse my interest, yet again, in the YA genre. It is a must read.
Negatives
I don’t think here’s anything negative to say about this book. The only reason I’m holding back half a star is because unfortunately I happened to watch the movie first, so it kinda killed the suspense for me. Hopefully the next book will get a full 5-stars rating from me.
Conclusion
If you love YA genre, Vampire Academy is definitely for you. I’m already regretting staying away from it for so long, but nevermind, better late than never! I’m very happy that I read it and more than excited to read the next part. Go ahead and get yourself this book, if you haven’t already!
You can also read this review on Goodreads.Other Stuff
Opening Line: “I felt her fear before I heard her screams.”
Highlights: The fresh take on paranormal genre.
Low-lights: None!
Quotes:
“Taking a deep breathe, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I walked away.”“I didn’t like having reasonable arguments thrown at me.”
“I had a standing arrangement with God: I’d agree to believe in him—barely—so long as he let me sleep in on Sundays.”
“Screw you,” I told him in a low voice.
“Are you offering?”
“From what I’ve heard, there isn’t much to screw,” I shot back.”
Memorable paragraph:
“Lissa and I had been friends ever since kindergarten, when our teacher had paired us up together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell Vasilisa Dragomir and Rosemarie Hathaway was beyond cruel, and we’d—or rather, I’d—responded appropriately. I’d chucked my book at out teacher and called her a fascist bastard. I hadn’t known what those words meant, but I’d known how to hit a moving target.
Lissa and I had been inseparable ever since.”
Final Thoughts: A brilliant YA read 🙂
Book Review: Enchanted (Donovan Legacy #4)
Author: Nora Roberts Release Date: April 1, 2009 Series: Donovan Legacy Genre: Paranormal| Romance | Fiction | Contemporary Pages: 331ISBN NO.: 978-0-263-87514-0 Publisher: Penguin India Preceded by: Charmed (Donovan Legacy #3)
Blurb
Rowan Murray needed the space to make an important choice, so she ran to a cabin on the wild coast of Oregon. But her new house was isolated, and Rowan was a woman alone. Hiking in the woods one day, Rowan’s solitude was threatened by an encounter with a stranger. Liam Donovan was mysterious, temperamental, frightening – and Rowan’s nearest neighbour. In a terrifying storm, with the power out in her tiny cabin, Rowan desperately needed help. When Liam arrived just in time, she had no choice but to accept his aid. Rowan would have to trust an enigmatic stranger with her whole future.
Review
The best thing about Nora Roberts’s books is that all the sweet and magical romance makes you forget all your tensions. Well atleast they do this for me! I liked this one a lot because it was different, firstly the lead male-witch, Liam, was a shape-shifter and second the female lead, Rowan, was also a witch, coming from a family of a long-forgotten but a real one!
Rowan as a character was brilliant and successfully flaunted the stuff women go through atleast once in a lifetime like confused, vulnerable, burdened and on the tricky edge to make a life-changing decision. On the other hand, Liam is a typical egoistic and arrogant male character with “I-take-all-the-f***ing-decisions” attitude. He behaves snobbishly and keeps throwing the excuse-ball of responsibility on everyone’s face. I guess I’ve made it quite clear that I really didn’t like Liam but trust me it didn’t ruin my reading experience because at the end Rowan had the nerves to ask Liam to literally beg and confess his love. That douche-bag really deserved it! That little moment literally made up for everything!
I liked the angle of a Rowan’s grandmother’s forgotten legacy. After reading Captivated, Entranced and Charmed, loosely based on the same concept, except for all the different styles of love-making 😉 , this one was totally different.
The writing was simple and the plot was interesting. If you’ve read the other books from the series then you’ll be happy to know that in this book we get to meet Morgana’s, Ana’s and Sebastian’s families as well. It really felt good to read about all the cousins again, as over the first three reads, one really develops a relation with the leads.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
Other Stuff
Opening Line: “Dark as the night and fleet of foot, the wolf raced under a hunter’s moon. ”
Highlights: Different storyline.
Low-lights: Liam’s behaviour!
Quotes: “She sighed once, wishing she had a talent for the details of telling stories. She wasn’t bad at themes, she mused, but she could never figure out how to turn a theme into an engaging tale.”
Memorable paragraph:
““I was your lover Liam, but never your partner. I won’t settle for that, not even for you. You had my heart in your hands, and you didn’t know what to do with it. I can tell you, without the crystal ball, without the gift, you will never have another like it.””
Final Thoughts: A good book to conclude The Donovan Legacy.
Book Review: The Accidental Apprentice (ARC)
Author: Anika Arrington Release Date: October 4, 2014 Series: Not sure Genre: NA | High Fantasy Edition: e-book (epub) Pages: 180 Publisher: Xchyler Publishing Interest: Requested by publisher Source: Xchyler Publishing
Blurb
Brilliant and ambitious, Rezdin the Wizard has one goal: impress the king, but he answers to Baron von Dappenshien who refuses him access to Court. However, before Rezdin can maneuver himself into the limelight, the king arrests von Dappenshien for treason, and Rezdin goes to ground. The wizard finds himself dependent upon the wits and good will of one starving street urchin. But what can he offer little Tommy in return? When old dangers and new alliances rear their menacing heads, Rezdin must decide where his true loyalties lie, and what to do with his newfound entourage of one.
Review
Positives:
The Accidental Apprentice is a wonderful and fascinating book, full of magic! I liked everything about the story and the characters. The Characters are one of the many ‘positives’ for the book, they are very well developed and quite influential. You can instantly connect with the characters as the book is written in various PoVs. I loved the fact that magic, in this book, is described so flawlessly that for a minute I was wondering about having powers within myself. This book is very beautifully written. Anika’s writing carries you magically through the entire story and leaves you craving for more at the end. The plot is aptly intriguing and the concept of DMZ (Demystifying Zone) is just amazing.
I can’t even pick up a favourite character, as each and every character felt so true!
Negatives:
I would have greatly appreciated one more chapter from Erik’s PoV. I strongly feel that this chapter would have provided the character of Baron von Dappenshien a satisfying closure. I really, really missed him in the end. That’s the only reason for me to cut back on 1/2 a star in the rating. Also a different cover might have done wonders for the book!
Conclusion:
The Accidental Apprentice is a wonderful book full of magic and surprises. It has successfully made it’s place amongst my favourites. I’d recommend it to all the high-fantasy readers.
PS: I really hope that the author writes a sequel to The Accidental Apprentice. I’d love to see Tommy’s progress in the Academy.
Other Stuff
Highlights: Anika’s fantastic imagination and writing .
Low-lights: Ending felt a bit incomplete.
Memorable Quote: “Magik is quite, invisible, small. And in the quietest, simplest gestures, the most powerful magiks reside.”
Final Thoughts: An amazing read.
Book Review: Innocent Assassins
Genre: Mystery | Crime | YA | Contemporary Thriller | Action
My Rating: 4 + 1/2
Read my review of Relative Evil at JC’s Book Haven.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
Blurb
There are three rules to staying an assassin at the corporation of Covert Operatives: (1) your parents must be deceased, (2) your contracts must remain confidential, and (3) you must be under the age of eighteen.
After a murder mission goes awry a month before her eighteenth birthday, Covert Operatives assassin Jane Lu finds herself caught by the federal government and forced to spy for the CIA while remaining in Covert Operatives. Once her spying mission is over she will be allowed to live a civilian life without facing criminal consequences, a life she’s only dreamed of having.
As Jane leaks information to the CIA, she uncovers secrets with enough power to both destroy Covert Operatives and her own boyfriend, Adrian King, who’s next in line to be CEO of the company. When her identity as a double agent for the CIA is discovered within Covert Operatives, she must decide where her allegiance, and her heart, truly lies.
Don’t forget to share your thoughts 🙂
Book Review: Relative Evil
Genre: Mystery | Crime | NA | Contemporary Thriller
My Rating: 4
Read my review of Relative Evil at JC’s Book Haven.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
Book Review: Lord Of The Flies
Author: William Golding Release Date: 1954 Series: None Genres: Classics|YA|Brit-Lit|Adventure|Dystoia| Sci-Fi Pages: 230 ISBN NO.: 978-0-571-20053-5 Publisher: Penguin India
Blurb
A plane crashes n a desert island. The only survivors area a group of schoolboys. At first they revel in the freedom and celebrate the absence of grown-ups.
Soon though, as the boys’ fragile sense of order begins to collapse, their fears start to take on a sinister, primitive significance. Suddenly, the world of cricket, homework and adventure stories seems a long way away. The boys are faced with a more pressing reality – survival – and the appearance of a terrifying beast who haunts their dreams.
Book Review: Charmed (Donovan Legacy #3)
Author: Nora Roberts Release Date: February 1, 2009 Series: Donovan Legacy Genre: Paranormal| Romance | Fiction | Contemporary Pages: 328 ISBN NO.: 978-0-263-87187-6 Publisher: Penguin India Preceded by: Entranced (Donovan Legacy #2) Followed By: Enchanted (Donovan Legacy #4)
Blurb
Boone Sawyer never expected to move next door to a woman who looked like one of the fairy princesses he often wrote about. Anastasia Donovan had a serene kind of femininity that would
Book Review: Squirrel Of Magic
Author: Olga Godim Release Date: April 11, 2014 Series: None Genre: YA | Contemporary Fiction | Short Stories Edition: e-book (epub) Pages: 132 Publisher: Self Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks, Olga!) To buy Squirrel Of Magic click here.
Blurb
After smuggling her familiar, squirrel Beatrice, into Canada, young witch Darya embarks on
Book Review: This Is Sarah
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | YA | Romance
My Rating: 4½
Read my review of This Is Sarah at JC’s Book Haven.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
BLURB
When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin’s world unravels as he transforms from the boyfriend next door to the main police suspect. Then one year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that changes everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so how can he bring her back?
As Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister, Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape of life without her sister. While her parents fall apart, Claire remains determined to keep going even if it kills her.
THIS IS SARAH serves as a meditation on loss, love and what it means to say goodbye.
Don’t forget to share your thoughts 🙂
Book Review: Tomorrow Wendell
Author: R. M. Ridley Release Date: June 28, 2014 Series: None Genre: Science-Fiction | Paranormal Thriller | Crime Edition: e-book (epub) Pages: 232 Publisher: Xchyler Publishing Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks, Mr. Ridley!) To but Tomorrow Wendell click here.
Blurb
When predictions tell Wendell Courtney he’s going to die, he turns to the one man he hopes can help. Jonathan Alvey’s no stranger to the strange. But, unlike the private investigator’s run-of-the-mill zombie cases, he can find no trace of magic around Wendell, and no hint of an adversary. Alvey certainly has magic and wits enough to solve the mystery, but is his offering to the insatiable dragon black sufficient? Or is Wendell truly destined to die?
Book Review: Freak Show (The Nightshade Cases, Ep-1)
Genre: Paranormal Thriller | Short Stories (Episode format)
My Rating: 4.5/6
Read my review of Freak Show, the first episode in The Nightshade series at JC’s Book Haven.
You can also read this review at Goodreads.
Blurb
When transsexual starlet Aisling is murdered, Detective Geraldine Meyers is assigned the case. With help from medical examiner Dr. Rachel Hunter, Gerri realizes this is no ordinary killing. While she might not want to call in over-eager anthropologist Dr. Kinsey DanAllart, the detective is forced to trust her friend’s expertise in symbology, even though doing so means admitting “weird” things might be happening in Silver City. As the three friends unravel the mystery of the dancer’s death, one thing is made absolutely apparent—something isn’t right in their new home town. And someone is doing everything they can to make sure the truth doesn’t come out.
In Silver City, sometimes friendship can be murder.
Welcome to the first Nightshade Case, a series of twenty-one episodes in twenty-one weeks. Please note: this episodic series is based on the television show model, with screenwriting notations and shorter formats. There will be a complete mystery each week, with cliffhangers only occurring in the full season story line.
Don’t forget to share your thoughts 🙂
Book Review: Cujo
Author: Stephen King Release Date: 1981 Genre: Thriller | Horror Pages: 420 ISBN NO.: 978-0-340-95270 Publisher: Hachette
BLURB
Cujo is two-hundred pond Saint Bernard, the best friend Brett Camber has ever had. The Cujo chases a rabbit into a bolthole- a cave inhabited by some very sick bats. What happens next, how Cujo becomes a horrifying vortex, inexorably drawing in all the people around him, makes for one of Stephen King’s most terrifying, heart-stopping novels yet…
REVIEW
Positives:
Being a Stephen King’s fan, I knew even before starting the book that I’m in for another horrific journey. And believe me when I say I wasn’t disappointed! King is one of the best authors I’ve ever read and this book is yet another masterpiece. The characters were very well built and so was each and everyone’s background story. I loved Tad, Vic and Brett and of-course Cujo (just as an individual character and not personally.) The story establishes and takes direction slowly and steadily and prepares you well enough for what comes next, an unexpected emotional roller-coaster ride. As the story progresses, and as it’s King’s speciality, you come to know each and every character personally and can very well understand their psychology, actions and reactions, in this case, including a dog (Cujo). That said, King’s description of Cujo’s emotional state and things from his point of view, are the best things about the book. At the end I started to feel sorry for his condition and also the end.
Negatives:
The only thing wrong about the book was the ending. It ended on a very bad note. I’m not disclosing the end here, as it will spoil the end for some readers, but I’ll just say that the end really freaked me out! And for that only I’m cutting back on 1 star.
Conclusion:
Cujo is an amazing book with lots of drama, thrill and horror in equal proportions. It’ll be an excellent read for the genre’s lovers but if you hate strong emotional and bad endings, then you’ll better do without it!
You can also read this review at Goodreads | Booklikes | Leafmarks.Other Stuff
Opening Line: ‘Once upon a time, not so long ago, a monster came to the small town of Castle Rock, Maine.’
Highlights: King’s story-telling.
Low-lights: Ending.
Memorable Quotes: “Nope. Nothing wrong here.”
“Surely they had passed the worst. All the luck had been against them, but sooner or later even the worst luck changes.”
“…it was amazing, wasn’t it, how bad you could hurt when there was nothing physically wrong.”
Memorable Paragraph:
‘Maybe he was as mad as he said he was, but she could see only a species of miserable fright. Suddenly, like the thud of a boxing glove on her mouth, she saw how close to the edge of everything he was. The agency was tottering, that was bad enough, and now, on top of that, like a grisly dessert following a putrid main course, his marriage was tottering too. She felt a rush of warmth for him, for this man she had sometimes hated and had, for the last three hours at least, feared. A kind of epiphany filled her. Most of all, she hoped he would always think he had been as mad as hell, and not . . . not the way his face said he felt’Final Thoughts: Yet another great book for King’s fans.
Book Review: The Universe Builders
Good noon guys!
I’ve reviewed one of the best books that I’ve ever received for a review, The Universe Builders. Do read my review at JC’s Book Haven. I strongly feel that if you like Hobbit and the likes you’ll definitely love this one. To win a free e-book of The Universe Builders, enter in the giveaway. I can’t wait for the next instalment to hit the market. If you’re interested buy this book at Amazon.
You can also read my review at Goodreads.
Thanks a lot Jaclyn for giving me the chance to review this wonderful book and thanks Steve Lebel for writing it 😀
If you are planning to read T.U.B. or have already read it, don’t forget to share your thought with me.
Book Review: Strike Three
Book Review: Eagle En Garde
Author: Olga Godim Release Date: May 2014 Genre: Adventure | Fantasy Edition: e-book (epub) Pages: 271 Publisher: Champagne/Burst Books Interest: Requested by author Source: Author (Thanks, Olga!) Buy: Amazon
Summary
Darin, a mercenary officer, lives in Talaria, a kingdom surrounded by a magic-resistant spell. While some people wish to break the spell and invite magic back into the country, the fanatical sect of Cleaners is determined to prevent the return of magic. Darin doesn’t agree with the Cleaners’ doctrine but he doesn’t dispute it either. He is a soldier, not a philosopher. Then he accidentally overhears the Cleaners’ hidden agenda to destroy all magic workers in Talaria, including witches and elves, and his orderly life is turned upside down. His sweetheart is a witch, his daughter is a half-elf, and he has many elven friends. He can’t allow the Cleaners’ murderous scheme to succeed, can’t allow innocents to suffer from the rabid zealots. But what can a lone mercenary do against a horde of extremists? His only choice lies in trickery and deceit to outsmart his enemies. And the anti-magic spell on the border suddenly becomes his only ally.
Review
**Spoiler Alert**
The book starts with Captain Darin Barclay saving a women (a witch) form a bunch of cleaners in a fair in Coll, Talaria. Talaria is an imaginary kingdom whose borders are bound by a spell that prevents magic to enter inside the kingdom. Anything that has magic or anyone who can perform magic (elves and witches) can not enter the spell-bound boundaries of Talaria. Darin Barclay is a courageous 24 year old, dangerously handsome, captain of the Eagles, who has sworn to protect the people of Coll, Talaria. Cleaners are a nasty bunch of people who are against magic and all the magical people and want others to follow their Gods and believes. A few elves and witches who live in Talaria can never leave it’s borders because if they do so they’ll never be able to return because of the spell. These good-natured elves and witches are constantly haunted by the cleaners to leave Talaria.
This books takes the reader through the adventurous journey of Darin Barclay in saving elves from cleaners and in doing so, saving numerous lives, including that of his daughter Leatanis (who is half elven) and his love Ana.
Olga Godim captures the reader’s imagination effortlessly. This light-hearted story has just the perfect amount of adventure, magic, emotion, drama, morals and most of all courage. I would like to quote this book as a “no-nonsense adventure”. Right when you think something is going to go wrong with Darin’s plans, he successfully pulls off each and every plan neatly. This really made me wonder about a reader’s unnecessary need for twists and turns, just so that they have something to think about. And this is where Olga Godim, for me, has given this book a new, very positive, direction. The story runs smoothly and at a quick no-fret pace.
You can read this review on goodreads here.
Other Stuff
Map:
Opening Line: ‘Behind a thin wooden fence, the spring fair in Coll pulsed and hummed like a human sea.’
Highlights: Darin Barclay.
Low-lights: None.
Interview: You can read the author’s conversation with the novel’s protagonist, a mercenary officer Darin Barclay here.
Final Thoughts: A light-hearted adventurous read.
Book Review: Just After Sunset
Author: Stephen King
Release Date: 11 November, 2008
Series: None
Genre: Short Stories | Horror | Super Natural | Thriller
Pages: 515
Edition: Paperback
ISBN NO.: 978-0-340-97718-7
Publisher: Hachette India
Source: Library
The Reading Bud 