Showing posts with label hiding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiding. Show all posts

Monday, July 26, 2021

Book Review - The House of Whispers by Laura Purcell

 

 

Louise Pinecroft has lost most of her family to consumption. Only she and her father were left unscathed but, they are incredibly lonely and heartbroken. Here father, Dr. Pinecroft, decides that he will run an experiment to prove that he can cure the disease that killed his family. He believes that the sea air can cure consumption. He arranges for a group of prisoners who have been ravished by consumption to stay in the caves under his new Cornish home. While he devotes himself to the experiment, Louise finds herself surrounded by a maid who is convinced that fairies will take people from their homes.

Forty years later, Hester arrives at Morvoren House to become a nurse for the partially paralyzed and mute Miss Pinecroft. Hester takes the position because she is running from her past. However, she finds herself surrounded by superstitious staff who conducts weird rituals and mysterious events occur during the night. Will Hester's past come back to haunt her?

I have read a few books by the author so, I was excited to read this book. However, I was disappointed how boring this novel was. I felt like the author built up the story line but, the ending was very unsatisfying as it didn't really answer anything. The story is told across three different timelines and each add a bit to the story but, the author failed to make them into a cohesive and enjoyable story.

Friday, July 16, 2021

Book Review - The Rumor by Lesley Kara

 

 

There is a rumor circulating in the small seaside town Joanna lives in. The rumor is that a notorious child killer is living a new life under an assumed identity. The person who committed the crime was a young child herself. Joanna starts to suspect everyone in town.

As Joanna starts to read more about the case, she becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. However, while she is searching for the killer, she puts her and her family in the killer's crosshairs. The person is ready to kill again to protect what they love. Joanna realizes how far someone is willing to go for people they love.  

The novel was an interesting read. The twist was a surprise for me but, might have been predictable to some. The novel moved a bit slow at times and had a lot of characters. I must admit, I didn't like the scenes with the killer's point of view. When the person was exposed, I felt like their inner thoughts didn't match the person we knew.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Book Review - The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

Photo Credit - Amazon

Esha lost everything during a royal coup. She becomes the Viper in hopes to get her revenge and help the ones she loves. She receives her most important and complicated mission to date; she needs to kill the merciless General Hotha. 

Being a soldier is the only life Kunal knows. His uncle, General Hotha, keeps a close on Kunal to make sure he never strays from his path. Kunal respects his uncle's desires of him but, his heart craves to explore the outside world.

When Esha and Kunal cross path one night, their entire world crumbles and their fate becomes entwined. They both think that they are in control but, will they realize that there are bigger things at play?

The novel was a good introduction to the series. The characters were both interesting and fun to read. I felt like the story was a bit predictable but, still enjoyable. I wish the author included an appendix because there were several words and terminology used that I didn't understand. I did feel that the plot did advance a bit slow especially since the book was over 400 pages long. I read another YA fantasy series and the author also did something similar. I am wondering if this a new trend of drawing out the plot for YA/Adults fantasy series. I did like that there was some mythology but, I wish this was gone into more detail for those who are not familiar with it. Overall, the book was a good start of the series and I am excited to read the next book.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Book Review - Bridge 108 by Anne Charnock + Giveaway


Photo Credit - Amazon


In the late twenty-first century, drought and wildfires ravage southern Europe causing residents to flee. When twelve-year-old Caleb and his mother make the journey north, he becomes separated from her and falls victim to human traffickers. He becomes enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester but, he uses the opportunity to improve his situation. Even when his situation looks dire, Caleb never loses hope.

Caleb meets another victim of trafficking and together they look for better opportunities. He hides in the woods and searches for a new place to call home. As Caleb searches for his path, he realizes he can't trust anyone because he might end up in a perilous situation. 

I enjoyed reading this novel as the writing flowed smoothly. The book grabbed my attention and kept it until the end. I enjoyed reading about Caleb and his adventures in finding a place to belong. I liked that the author included different points of view in the book but, I felt like some characters should have been included. I would have liked to have read about his friend in the enclave roof next door and her motivations. The book was fast-paced but, lacked a bit of world-building. The author mentioned a few things in passing but, I wanted to know more about the tech or the political landscape. I felt like this book would be a great introductory novel into an awesome series about a new "world".

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**




Print Length: 195 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1542006082
Publisher: 47North (February 18, 2020)
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07PLHGMQN


Praise for BRIDGE 108

“Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with hopeful messages will be gratified by this topical tale of human resourcefulness in the face of climate disaster.” —Publishers Weekly

A dystopian novel set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life. Told through multiple voices against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.


From the Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning author, a dystopian novel of oppression set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life, a finalist for the Kitschies award and Philip K. Dick Award.

Late in the twenty-first century, drought and wildfires prompt an exodus from southern Europe. When twelve-year-old Caleb is separated from his mother during their trek north, he soon falls prey to traffickers. Enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester, the resourceful and determined Caleb never loses hope of bettering himself.

After Caleb is befriended by a fellow victim of trafficking, another road opens. Hiding in the woodlands by day, guided by the stars at night, he begins a new journey—to escape to a better life, to meet someone he can trust, and to find his family. For Caleb, only one thing is certain: making his way in the world will be far more difficult than his mother imagined.

Told through multiple voices and set against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.

You can purchase Bridge 108 at the following Retailers:
        

Photo Content from Anne Charnock

Anne Charnock's latest novel, DREAMS BEFORE THE START OF TIME, is the winner of the 2018 Arthur C. Clarke Award, and was shortlisted for the BSFA 2017 Best Novel Award. Her novella THE ENCLAVE has won the BSFA 2017 Best Short Fiction Award. This novella is written in the same world as her debut novel, A CALCULATED LIFE, which was a finalist for the 2013 Philip K. Dick and The Kitschies Golden Tentacle Awards.

SLEEPING EMBERS OF AN ORDINARY MIND, her second novel, was named by The Guardian as one of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2015

Anne Charnock's journalism has appeared in New Scientist, The Guardian, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune and Geographical. She was educated at the University of East Anglia, where she studied Environmental Sciences, and at The Manchester School of Art, England where she gained a Masters in Fine Art.

As a foreign correspondent, she travelled widely in Africa, the Middle East and India and spent a year overlanding through Egypt, Sudan and Kenya.

        
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Monday, October 16, 2017

Book Review - Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

Photo Credit - Amazon
**May Contain Spoilers**

Tension and brutal conflicts plague the colonists of the Ohio-Kentucky in 1774, when they try to settle on land that belong to the Native Americans. The Inglesby family decides to make the journey west to search for a better life, when an accident causes Philip to venture ahead for help leaving his pregnant wife, Clare and their four-year old son Jacob alone. The mother and son, find cover for the night, but when Clare awakes she finds her eldest son missing and she is in labor. She finds that her son is being held captive by the Shawnee Indians and threaten his very safety. She enlists the help of Jeremiah Ring who is serving as a messenger between the Native Americans and the settlers. Jeremiah hesitantly agrees at first as he worries that she would be in more danger and he has to deliver an important letter to the council and delaying the message can cause more lives to be jeopardized. Will Clare be able to save her son? Why did the Native Americans capture her son?

The historical fiction novel had an interesting story blending aspects of true events into the story. However, I felt the writing fell flat and seemed tedious at some points. I also found the main character to be detestable and downright a shame to be called a mother. She worries about her lost son, but when she barely worried about the newborn child that she has. I also felt because she had a daughter, she didn't feel as invested in her as her son. She is also portrayed as the mother who would fight for her children, but why didn't she put her foot down before her husband drag their entire family into the wilderness? Why does she treat her newborn daughter as an obstacle and a burden between reuniting with her son? I tried really hard to get into this book, but I kept thinking Clare is nothing but a hypocrite and can't spend 5 minutes thinking of others before she claims injustice. She claims the Native Americans are barbaric for claiming white settler's children as their own, but the white settlers just murdered/attack the Native Americans sometimes without being provoked. At least the Native Americans didn't kill the children while the settlers murdered pregnant Native American women. Clare should open her eyes and feel compassion for others instead of being quick to judge.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion**