I wanted to love this one but it ended up being pretty "meh" for me. The vampires felt crammed in as an afterthought. The history was presented so vagI wanted to love this one but it ended up being pretty "meh" for me. The vampires felt crammed in as an afterthought. The history was presented so vaguely that I had to google to refresh myself on the history. Otherwise, I had only a vague idea of who the different parties were and why they were at war. Our MC is super bratty and self-centered and we end up getting very little insight into the battles. This didn't deliver what it promised, and I wish I'd enjoyed it as much as some of these 4 and 5 star reviews....more
This was an okay read. Cults are fascinating to me, but the descriptions of the community felt generic and superficial. Even leaving aside the time trThis was an okay read. Cults are fascinating to me, but the descriptions of the community felt generic and superficial. Even leaving aside the time travel plot (which always has some challenges) I didn't feel the chemistry, and it made the book drag for me. ...more
This one has a slow and confusing start. But if you can get through the slow chapters and just go with it then it does pick up and you start to undersThis one has a slow and confusing start. But if you can get through the slow chapters and just go with it then it does pick up and you start to understand what's going on. I loved the world building and absolutely didn't want the story to end. I'm hoping for a sequel! ...more
This is such a weird book. I don't even know how to rate it. I recommend you go into it blind, because the description only adds confusion. This is such a weird book. I don't even know how to rate it. I recommend you go into it blind, because the description only adds confusion. ...more
I really wanted to enjoy this book, I swear I did. The immigrant experience element was compelling. However, the pedophilic undertones were skeevy andI really wanted to enjoy this book, I swear I did. The immigrant experience element was compelling. However, the pedophilic undertones were skeevy and ruined it for me....more
I have loved so many of Acevedo's YA novels that I was expecting this one to hit the same way and somehow it just didn't. The character interactions fI have loved so many of Acevedo's YA novels that I was expecting this one to hit the same way and somehow it just didn't. The character interactions felt stilted, the plot was choppy, and overall I just didn't feel as invested in the story as with her YA novels....more
This book failed to distinguish itself - and not only from other fantasy books. Even within its own covers it didn't distinguish anything. Two of the This book failed to distinguish itself - and not only from other fantasy books. Even within its own covers it didn't distinguish anything. Two of the three main characters are so similar that half the time I couldn't tell which one's POV we were in. There's not world building done so we literally do not understand why some people have the ability to jump, how they jump, why nobody seems to care that they jump from body to body - often leaving the last body dead, what people are fighting for, or why people are in these different classes. The anti-establishment hero is actually pro-establishment (but his instead of his dad's which is obviously better). It's sort of like the hunger games but not because the people in power are also playing the same game. It made no sense and I have zero intention of finishing this series....more
I expected to enjoy this book more than I did. The marital conflict was mixed up with a lot of parenting conflict, which I wasn't expecting. Neither oI expected to enjoy this book more than I did. The marital conflict was mixed up with a lot of parenting conflict, which I wasn't expecting. Neither of the MCs was sympathetic for me, and that made it harder to feel invested in their marriage and the resolution. I did, however, enjoy learning more about Ghanian culture....more
I expected to like this book more than I did. Ultimately, there were too many things that felt widely unrealistic (for example, someone who is blackliI expected to like this book more than I did. Ultimately, there were too many things that felt widely unrealistic (for example, someone who is blacklisted by the communist party in the 1950s but is happily living a life in their own apartment and moving from city to city) that detracted from my enjoyment....more
I'd never heard of this fire before picking up the book, but I found this story compelling. There is a lot of traumatic content in both the fire itselI'd never heard of this fire before picking up the book, but I found this story compelling. There is a lot of traumatic content in both the fire itself and the depictions of slavery, but I really liked how Beanland wove the narratives together to form a cohesive picture of the fire and its aftermath. ...more
I really enjoyed this gothic fairy tale. The characters were interesting and the mysteries kept me engaged. I loved that even though the bridegroom teI really enjoyed this gothic fairy tale. The characters were interesting and the mysteries kept me engaged. I loved that even though the bridegroom tells a lot of the story, it's not about him at all. It's very much centered on the female characters and their relationships. I especially loved the relationship between Indigo and Azure. The whole book was so atmospheric and mysterious, it absolutely drew me in and I didn't want to put it down.
I enjoyed Chokshi's The Gilded Wolves trilogy and this was a great debut into adult fiction. Looking forward to what she publishes next....more
This book made me cry and cry and cry. It was such a beautiful testament to the resilience of humans in the face of evil and the lengths a mother willThis book made me cry and cry and cry. It was such a beautiful testament to the resilience of humans in the face of evil and the lengths a mother will go to for her children. ...more
This book had such an interesting premise, but I just couldn't get into it. I fell asleep THREE times. I somehow made it to the end, and it does get mThis book had such an interesting premise, but I just couldn't get into it. I fell asleep THREE times. I somehow made it to the end, and it does get more interesting right at the end, but it was a struggle and I'm not sure the payoff was worth it for me. ...more
I always struggle with Partition stories. It's such a painful chapter in Indian history and it has left so many scars. But the stories are often nearlI always struggle with Partition stories. It's such a painful chapter in Indian history and it has left so many scars. But the stories are often nearly the same, and sometimes that takes away from their impact. I appreciated that this book was set in Bengal instead of Punjab, because that's an aspect of Partition that I haven't had a lot of exposure to. I also appreciated that while we have one Hindu-Muslim love story (beloved trope of Bollywood that it is), we also have the stories of the other sisters that lend some context and varied insight. Painful to read but essential. ...more
I liked this one but it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. More of a slow burn for most of the book vs a true thriller. A lot of stuff that didn'tI liked this one but it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. More of a slow burn for most of the book vs a true thriller. A lot of stuff that didn't seem relevant and mostly predicable twists. The last 50 pages or so were really good, but I wish the rest of the book had that intensity. There seemed to be a lot of filler story that didn't add much to the story. ...more
This book had so much potential, but it just didn't get there for me. The characters were so unsympathetic that I wasn't at all invested in their fateThis book had so much potential, but it just didn't get there for me. The characters were so unsympathetic that I wasn't at all invested in their fate. The story is based on the overused trope of a hen party and has been done so much better by other authors. Not a single twist was a surprise. There are so many better thrillers out there, I don't recommend this one....more
I waited a few days to process before I could write a review on this one. I read it all in one day and I couldn't put it down, so yes I'd say it's comI waited a few days to process before I could write a review on this one. I read it all in one day and I couldn't put it down, so yes I'd say it's compelling. I wouldn't, however, say it's an easy read. I struggled with so much of the story. If you're not familiar with the culture or language of Northern India, you may want to keep a phone or laptop nearby to look up slang and such. Despite the length of this book, there were some characters that needed much more detailed backstories because their intentions were so vague. I'm hoping for a sequel that provides this. Please check trigger warnings. ...more
How well do you really know your neighbors? What will you do to protect your children?
I liked this book about family and neighborhood dynamics. I don'How well do you really know your neighbors? What will you do to protect your children?
I liked this book about family and neighborhood dynamics. I don't live in a suburban neighborhood or have any children, so I read this one with an empathetic ear. I found the characters compelling and the relationship dynamics were well fleshed out.
This wasn't as fast paced as Audrain's first book, Push, but it was a good read....more
Shruti morethanmylupus
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