Tag: #bookaholic

Posted in Book Review Blog

Restore Me Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Restore Me

by Tahereh Mafi

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $10.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $25.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2018 by Harper.

Page Count: 464 pages (paperback) 448 (hardcover) 384 (kindle)

Audiobook length: 08 hrs 39 mins

Chapters: N/A (Not separated by numbered chapters)

Language: English (also available in the following translation: Portuguese)

Summary of Book:

“It’s been sixteen days since Juliette Ferrars killed the supreme commander of North America and took over as ruler of The Reestablishment on the continent.

Sixteen days since she assassinated Warner’s father.

Juliette thought she’d won. She took over Sector 45 and now has Warner by her side. But she’s still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch– and with so much power in her young hands, the world is watching her every move, waiting to see what happens next.

Juliette and Warner have risked everything. But when tragedy strikes, they must confront the darkness that exists both around and inside them. Will they be able to control the power Juliette wields, or will it control them?” -Harper

Author Biography:

“Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series, Furthermore, and Whichwood. She can usually be found overcaffinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere @TaherehMafi or at www.taherehbooks.com” -Harper

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I recently re-read Restore Me for the upcoming release of Defy Me. I had recalled really enjoying this novel the first time I read it, and enjoyed it just as much the second time through. There was so much to this story that really brought the Shatter Me world to life. 

What I enjoyed the most about this fourth installment in the Shatter Me series was the death of the love triangle that I had not had any interest in since the first book. By this novel, Mafi focuses more on developing the characters and the upcoming conflicts for the fifth novel. I enjoyed a break from the whole “I love Adam. No. I love Warner.” inner battle Juliette was having. If the focus would have been the same in this novel, I don’t think I could have made it through it. 

With that being said, prepare yourself! This fourth novel is going to throw you for a loop. When I re-read it, it brought up so many different theories about what I thought would happen next. It made me fear for the lives of my favorite characters (James and Kenji). I just could not picture the Shatter Me world without either of them, but for some reason the character’s I adore are the ones author love to kill. Don’t do this to us in Defy Me, Tahereh. Please don’t! 

There was not a lot of James in this character, but there was enough Kenji to go around. Adam was not as present in this novel either, which honestly, I am not complaining about. But the third novel, I was sick of him. He was too whiny, and I just wanted him to get lost. However, by the end of Restore Me, I get the feeling Adam is going to be more present in Defy Me. New information was given by the end of Restore Me (I will not spoil what it was) that gave me a theory as to how the love interests in the series may play out. Needless to say, I cannot wait to read book five!

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Kate Simses and James Fouhey

Simses continues the narration of the Shatter Me series, but this time, she is joined by Fouhey who narrates Warner’s portions of the novel. I have enjoyed Simses’s narration of the series so far, and having an additional narrator was very interesting. I really enjoyed their work. Their narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me. Their narration at 1.25 speed was the slowest speed I would listen at. The best speed for me was 1.50. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a either 1.50 speed or 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 and 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

  • Furthermore
  • Whichwood 
  • A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Shatter Me Series

  • Shatter Me
  • Unravel Me
  • Ignite Me
  • Restore Me
  • Defy Me

Novellas

  • Destroy Me
  • Fracture Me
  • Shadow Me

Novella Collection

  • Unite Me
Posted in Book Review Blog

Girl in the Blue Coat Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Girl in the Blue Coat

by Monica Hesse

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $9.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Kindle: $9.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $22.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse was published in 2016 by Little, Brown and Company.

Page Count: 320 pages (paperback) 320 (hardcover) 368 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 09 hrs 42 mins

Chapters: 34

Languages: English (also available in the following translations: French, German, and Spanish)

Summary of Book:

“Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days finding and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on Dutch front lines when the German army invaded. Her illegal work keeps her family afloat, and Hanneke also likes to think of it as a small act of rebellion against the Nazis. 

On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants her to find meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman’s frantic plea to find a person: a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen has been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such a dangerous task but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations–where the only way out is through.” – Little, Brown and Company

Author Biography:

“Monica Hesse is an author and journalist with the Washington Post. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and their dog. She invites you to visit her at monicahesse.com.” -Little Brown and Company

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

My initial reaction: Why hadn’t I read this or heard of this book sooner? 

The only reason I picked this book is was because it was being read as the April pick for a book club. I am absolutely thankful that I got the chance to read this book. I read/listened to half of the book one night and by noon the next day, I had already finished it. I could not put it down. I was so invested in the story, the characters, and the history the novel was presenting. 

I did not originally consider myself a person that likes books with historical events in them. However, after reading this book I have a new appreciation for them, and I actually want to read more books like this one. I had also never read any book by Monica Hesse, and the way she presents this one really has me invested in her writing. I want to read more work from her. I recently also purchased The War Outside, her most recent release, to get signed along with Girl in the Blue Coat at a book signing event Hesse was at, and I cannot wait to read it as well. 

My only “problem” with this novel is that I constantly asked myself why Hanneke was so invested in finding Mirjam. I do think that near the end of the novel, Hanneke gives a brief, sentence-long explanation of why she does. That one description of why she go to the length in her hunt for answers gave me enough to justify her search, but I will admit that I can see who someone else may disagree. It was not really something that stood out when she says why she does search so extensively, and one would actually have to ask that question early on to really notice the answer at the end.

Other than that one picky question I had, I could not find any other complaints. I was too invested in what was going on to really point out anything else that I did not like. It was so real to me! I was getting so anxious and worried. I was scared for the characters throughout. I was frightened to find out what fate Hesse had in store for her characters. When I got to the end, I found myself asking what was next. I am unsure if there is a second part to this novel. It does not need one. I simply want a second book because I really enjoyed the journey Hesse took me on in this book, and I did not want it to end just yet. 

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Natalia Payne 

Payne’s narration was well done but was too slow for me at 1.0 and 1.25 speeds. Her narration 1.50 speed was at what I would consider normal, conversation speed and the slowest speed I would listen. The favorite listening speed for me was at 1.75 speed. The speed was just right for me. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book and want to listen at a faster pace, I found 2.0 speed to be the best speeds. 2.5 speed was good too, but I liked 2.0 speed better and easier to follow. 3.0 was manageable and easy enough to follow as well. I was able to keep up with a full chapter when I was testing out the listening speed and was able to get through the whole thing. I do recommend reading along with the book if you decide to listen at 3.0 speed. 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I had to slow it down to 3.0 speed.

Other works by this Author:

Novels

  • The War Outside
  • American Fire
  • Girl in the Blue Coat
  • Stray
  • Burn
Posted in Book Review Blog

Ignite Me Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Ignite Me

by Tahereh Mafi

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Kindle: $10.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $20.76 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2014 by Harper.

Page Count: 416 pages (paperback) 416 (hardcover) 421 (kindle)

Audiobook length: 09 hrs 50 mins

Chapters: 78

Language: English (also available in the following translations: Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, and Turkish)

Summary of Book:

“Everyone Juliette cares about may be dead. Now Juliette is the only one standing in The Reestablishment’s way. But to take them down, as well as Anderson, the man that nearly killed her, Juliette needs the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew–about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam–was wrong.” -Harper

Author Biography:

“Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series, Furthermore, and Whichwood. She can usually be found overcaffinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere @TaherehMafi or at www.taherehbooks.com” -Harper

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Oh My Gosh! Why was Adam such an ass? I do not like him in this novel. He seemed like Peeta from the Hunger Games. I didn’t like Peeta at all, and Adam is becoming this clingy, jealous guy. He just got on my nerves, and I did not even care for him anymore. He was such a drama queen that I just couldn’t put up with him. I’m so over him and over what is going on between him, Juliette, and Warner. 

I think I read that quote from Warner on page 127, I couldn’t help but agree with him. When Warner said, “Do you never get exhausted being so wholly unbearable? You have as much charisma as the rotting innards of unidentified roadkill” I couldn’t help but agree with him. I wasn’t much of a Warner fan up until that point. When he said exactly what I was thinking of Adam, it was like one of those moments when you meet your best friend, that moment when you both become friends over mutual hatred and judgment of the same thing and people. I think I have found my new character bestie!  

I very much enjoyed the parts where Adam was not involved. I know that sounds horrible. It felt horrible to say, but considering one of my favorite characters is James, I do hope that Adam gets to be more tolerable. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I kind of want him to care more for his brother and less for Juliette. Juliette can hold her own. James can’t. Adam, do not let anything happen to James or else I will never forgive you! I want him to be a good brother, and I think that if that is the route Mafi has for him, I’ll actually grow to like him.

Above all, that was my main criticism for the novel. The rest of the events in the story were fine, and I actually enjoyed this novel more than book two. If you were able to tolerate book two, you should enjoy this one more. Out of all the books in the series, Unravel Me is my least favorite. 

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Kate Simses

Simses continues the narration of the Shatter Me series. Simses’ narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me. Her narration at 1.25 speed was the slowest speed I would listen at. The best speed for me was 1.50. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a either 1.50 speed or 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 and 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

  • Furthermore
  • Whichwood 
  • A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Shatter Me Series

  • Shatter Me
  • Unravel Me
  • Ignite Me
  • Restore Me
  • Defy Me

Novellas

  • Destroy Me
  • Fracture Me
  • Shadow Me

Novella Collection

  • Unite Me
Posted in Book Review Blog

Furthermore Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Furthermore

by Tahereh Mafi

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $8.99

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $8.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $26.95 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2016 by Dutton.

Page Count: 432 pages (paperback) 416 (hardcover) 402 (kindle)

Audiobook length: 08 hrs 12 mins

Chapters: N/A (Chapters not indicated)

Language: English (also available in the following translation: Portuguese)

Summary of Book:

“There are only three things that matter to Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and, most important of all, Father, who always loved her. It’s been almost three years since the day Father disappeared from Ferenwood with nothing but a ruler in his pocket, but Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’ll have to embark on one to find the other.

To bring Father home, Alice will travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver, who is an experienced guide with his own tangled secrets. It will take all of Alice’s wits to make it through Furthermore and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of uncertainty and loss.

Bestselling author Tahereh Mafi takes readers beyond the limits of their imagination in this captivating tale where color is currency, adventure is inevitable, and friendship is found in the most unexpected places.” -Dutton

Author Biography:

“Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Santa Monica, California, with her husband, fellow author Ransom Riggs. She can usually be found overcaffinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere @TaherehMafi or at www.taherehbooks.com” -Dutton

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

After reading the Shatter Me series, I look for more works by Tahereh Mafi. I came across Furthermore, and picked it up because I was curios to know more about it. It was so much different than the Shatter Me books that I was fascinated to read something different by this author. 

This story was very different than anything I have read recently. The world Mafi creates for this story is so captivating, and the challenges she has Alice endure just had me speechless. I could not believe how in the world Mafi could have created such a world. It was just so interesting. I found myself continuing to flip the page cause I wanted to know more about this world. Reading this reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Something that took me for a loop is the serious problems the main character undergoes. Her internal and familiar conflicts make her such a relate-able character and one that readers can sympathize with.  To a certain extent the story seemed “dark,” and I was worried what was going to happen to her. I found myself really wondering what it was she would find on her adventure and feared for her life. Her personal conflicts and struggles are those that I would expect my younger sisters to encounter and love that Mafi create a novel that expressed a young girl’s problems in a way where they could relate to it.  

The ending was surprising. I will not reveal what occurred to avoid any spoilers, but this is the first story that I have read in a long time with that type of ending. It was refreshing to read one like this after having read so many novels with various endings. This is a story that would be great to read together as a family. I can see this a story for both parents and children to enjoy together. 

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Bronson Pinchot

Pinchot’s narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me. Starting at 1.25 speed, I extremely enjoyed his narration. His narration was not over-dramatic or over-the-top. I found his narration to be so well done and as if I were listening to a bedtime story told by a parent to their child. The best speed for me was 1.50. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at at either a 1.50 or 1.75 speed so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 and 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

  • Furthermore
  • Whichwood 
  • A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Shatter Me Series

  • Shatter Me
  • Unravel Me
  • Ignite Me
  • Restore Me
  • Defy Me

Novellas

  • Destroy Me
  • Fracture Me
  • Shadow Me

Novella Collection

  • Unite Me
Posted in Book Review Blog

Unravel Me Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Unravel Me

by Tahereh Mafi

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Kindle: $10.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $27.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2013 by Harper.

Page Count: 496 pages (paperback) 480 (hardcover) 485 (kindle)

Audiobook length: 11 hrs 53 mins

Chapters: 73

Language: English (also available in the following translations: Italian and Portuguese)

Summary of Book:

“Juliette has escaped from The Reestablishment. Now she’s free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from hr lethal touch. Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. Haunted by her past and terrified of her future, Juliette knows that she will have to make some life-changing choices. Choices that may involve choosing between her heart–and Adam’s life.” -Harper

Author Biography:

“Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series, Furthermore, and Whichwood. She can usually be found overcaffinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere @TaherehMafi or at www.taherehbooks.com” -Harper

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Disclaimer: I think I have finally read enough love triangle stories and want a change in character dynamic. This new outlook is going to change the way I read and review books from now on as I will ignore that part of the novel to see what else it has to offer. If a book cannot offer anything beyond a love triangle, it is going to end up in my DNF shelf on Goodreads.

After re-reading Shatter Me, I continued with the next book in the series. I recalled the first time I read this book and felt similar emotions toward it the second time through. I felt conflicted. I did not know what I wanted or expected the first time I read it. Was I Team Adam or Team Warner? I was a little more invested in where Juliette’s emotions would lie when I read Unravel Me for the first time. However, after my second time reading this novel, I wasn’t so much interested in the love triangle. I mentioned in the my review of Shatter Me that I have come to a point as a reader where I have no interest in love triangles. My disregard for the love triangle between Adam, Juliette, and Warner continued. However, like with the first novel, other conflicts and characters held my interest.

There was not a lot of James in this second novel, which I was kind of disappointed since he was one of my favorite characters in the first novel. However, there was a whole lot of Kenji to account for James’ absence. I was very impressed by this character in the first novel and grew to like him even more in the second. In a way, my re-reading made me completely forget about my Team Adam or Team Warner feeling I experienced the first time through. Instead,  I found myself siding more and more with Kenji. The conflict with Warner and Adam was just too much. I couldn’t really handle much of it, and Kenji’s scenes made the love triangle bearable. I do admit that if Kenji were to be nonexistent, I would not have enjoyed this book at all. It would have been one of the books that ended up in my DNF shelf if it relied solely on Adam, Juliette, and Warner.

This second novel moved slower than the first. The first novel focused more on the plot, and that was what made the reading feel so quick to me. However this second one focused more on the Juliette love triangle and her interactions with both Adam and Warner. For that reason, this second novel read slower. The plot was slowed down because Mafi caught more of Juliette’s confusion about what she wanted. That, honestly, annoyed me. At some point,  I found myself saying, pick one already; you’re just making yourself look slutty Juliette. I didn’t really care about the whole, “I don’t know who to choose; I can’t pick one over the other,” part to this story. Again, I admit that that is due to my being tired of love triangle stories.

After re-reading this novel, my feelings about the characters and plot changed. By the end of this re-reading, I was interested in what would happen with The Reestablishment (since that is the main conflict carrying the whole series), what would happen between Adam and Warner, and what would happen with Kenji. I did not care where Juliette’s feelings would end up. By the end of this novel, I just found myself saying, “girl you better pick one in the third book. You’ve gone undecided for two books now. You’re running out of books. Just pick one already.” I was instead more interested in what would happen with Adam and Warner after what was revealed in this novel. After what Mafi revealed in this novel about the two (I won’t spoil it) I wondered how that revelation would change this whole love triangle she introduced. I actually hoped it would shatter the love triangle altogether.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Kate Simses

Simses does an amazing job narrating the second part of this series. Her narration made the story interesting, and I enjoyed that the same narrator was used for this next book. It is kind of strange to me when different narrators are used to narrate a series, and it kind of makes me disconnect from the series since I relate the narrator’s voice to the story. I am glad the same narrator was utilized for this novel so that didn’t happen. Simses’ narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me. The best speed for me was 1.50. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 and 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

  • Furthermore
  • Whichwood 
  • A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Shatter Me Series

  • Shatter Me
  • Unravel Me
  • Ignite Me
  • Restore Me
  • Defy Me

Novellas

  • Destroy Me
  • Fracture Me
  • Shadow Me

Novella Collection

  • Unite Me
Posted in Book Review Blog

The Cuckoo’s Calling Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

The Cuckoo’s Calling

by Robert Galbraith

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $18.00

Hardcover: $28.00

Kindle: $10.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $20.67 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith was published in 2013 by Mulholland Books.

Page Count: 480 pages (paperback) 464 (hardcover) 561 (kindle)

Audiobook length: 15 hrs 54 mins

Chapters: N/A – Separated into 5 parts (Chapters per part numbered)

Language: English (also available in the following translation: Bulgarian, Catalan, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish)

Summary of Book:

“When a troubled supermodel falls to her death from the balcony of her London home, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts and calls in private detective Cormoran Strike to investigate. 

Strike is a war veteran–wounded both physically and psychologically–and his private life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model’s world, the darker things get and the closer he comes to terrible danger.” -Mulholland Books

Author Biography:

“Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series is classic contemporary crime fiction from a master story-teller, rich in plot, characterisation and detail. Galbraith’s debut into crime fiction garnered acclaim amongst critics and crime fans alike. The first three novels The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013), The Silkworm (2014) and Career of Evil (2015) all topped the national and international bestseller lists and have been adapted for television, produced by Brontë Film and Television. The fourth in the series, Lethal White (2018), is out now.

Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym of J.K. Rowling, bestselling author of the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy, a novel for adults. After Harry Potter, the author chose crime fiction for her next books, a genre she has always loved as a reader. She wanted to write a contemporary whodunit, with a credible back story.  J.K. Rowling’s original intention for writing as Robert Galbraith was for the books to be judged on their own merit, and to establish Galbraith as a well-regarded name in crime in its own right.

Now Robert Galbraith’s true identity is widely known, J.K. Rowling continues to write the crime series under the Galbraith pseudonym to keep the distinction from her other writing and so people will know what to expect from a Cormoran Strike novel.” -Amazon

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

This book has been on my shelf for years now. I never really had much interest in picking it up since I had other books that I really wanted to read. After getting through a good chunk of the books on my TBR list and on my bookshelves,  I finally decided to give this book a chance and give it a go. 

This story starts out really slow to me. I found myself wondering when we would get to the good part. The characters themselves didn’t draw me in. They were developed very well; I just simply did not latch on to any of them. That made my reading experience fairly dreadful. I usually don’t read detective stories/mysteries/thrillers for that very reason. I don’t know why but usually the characters don’t draw me in. This was one of those. 

This book is not in a genre that I tend to read, but I did recently read another thriller just before reading this one. I read Watching You by Lisa Jewell. Compared to the way Jewell tells her story versus Galbraith, I very much enjoyed Jewell’s writing over Galbraith. I think that maybe after reading Jewell, I may have expected a similar set of characters in this book. I quickly had to remind myself that Watching You was not from the detective’s perspective like how The Cuckoo’s Calling was. 

I would have to read more mysteries, thrillers, and suspense to give the genre a chance. I don’t know if I will pick up the next books in this series. I may start with more writing from Jewell and then after having read some more from that author, jump back to this series. I very much enjoyed the interactions between the characters and the interviews Strikes conducted. They were written phenomenally. Those conversations and scenes kept me invested enough to get through the story. The actual mystery itself did not. I was very must disinterested in the plot. 

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Robert Glenister

Glenister’s narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me. At 1.25 speed, I enjoyed his narration more but was still fairly slow for me. I had to listen to his narration at least at a 1.50 speed. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at at either a 1.50 or 1.75 speed so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 and 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Cormoran Strike Series

  • The Cuckoo’s Calling
  • Silkworm
  • Career of Evil
  • Lethal White
Posted in Book Review Blog

Shatter Me Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Shatter Me

by Tahereh Mafi

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $10.99 (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $27.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2011 by Harper.

Page Count: 464 pages (paperback) 448 (hardcover) 357 (kindle)

Audiobook length: 09 hrs 12 mins

Chapters: 50

Language: English (also available in the following translations: Dutch, Portuguese, Romanian)

Summary of Book:

“No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she’s finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time–and to find a future with the one boy she thought she’d lost forever. 

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a riveting dystopian world, a thrilling superhero story, and an unforgettable heroine.” -Harper

Author Biography:

“Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series, Furthermore, and Whichwood. She can usually be found overcaffinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere @TaherehMafi or at www.taherehbooks.com” -Harper

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I first read Shatter Me last year. I was invited to go to a book event by a friend, and Tahereh Mafi was one of the main authors that was going to be there. My friend recommended I read the Shatter Me series, for I had not heard of the series until the book event. I did so and was amazed. I could not stop at book one. I was very interested in the characters and the world Mafi created. A year after having read the first four books in the series and am awaiting the release of the fifth, I am re-reading the series in preparation for the next book. This re-reading has allowed me an opportunity to reconnect with the characters and to fall in love with this series once again. My re-connection to the series has also allowed me the opportunity to share my thoughts and create this review.

I was very much attracted to the ability Juliette possesses. I found myself extremely interested in her powers and was drawn in by Warner’s antagonizing Juliette. I love the way the characters were written. By far, my favorite characters were James and Kenji. I figured there would be some sort of love triangle and was not really drawn into it. I will admit that I am not one for love triangles. I have actually come to a point where I despise love triangles. However, I did not mind the one presented in this story. When there is a love triangle in a story, what helps me get through it and put up with it are either the plot or any well-written side characters. I guess in a way, I am more of a supporting character lover. I enjoy a good sidekick/side character. James and Kenji made for great side characters. These two characters were very unique to in comparison to the other characters in the story that it allowed me to really enjoy the story in its entirety.

The story itself moves very quickly that if I had the time sit through a full reading/listening of the story, I would have done so. I found myself wanting to know what was going to be on the next paragraph, page, and chapter. Though, Mafi throws us into a world we are unfamiliar with, she does it in such a way that does not confuse the reader. She gives the reader just enough about what is going on as to not confuse or overwhelm the reader. She gives enough of the conflicts going on in the world for the reader to understand what is going on and then moves her characters very effectively that really brings this world to life.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Kate Simses

Simses does an amazing job narrating this story. Her narration made the story interesting. She doesn’t over do the narration or make it boring. I do admit that her narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me. The best speed for me was 1.50. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 and 3.5 speed was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

  • Furthermore
  • Whichwood 
  • A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Shatter Me Series

  • Shatter Me
  • Unravel Me
  • Ignite Me
  • Restore Me
  • Defy Me

Novellas

  • Destroy Me
  • Fracture Me
  • Shadow Me

Novella Collection

  • Unite Me
Posted in Book Review Blog

Enchantée Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Enchantée

by Gita Trelease

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $12.26

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $9.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $31.23 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Enchantée by Gita Trelease was published in 2019 by Flatiron Books.

Page Count: 464 pages (paperback) 464 (hardcover) 464 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 12 hrs 56 mins

Chapters: 70

Languages: English 

Summary of Book:

“Paris is a labyrinth of twisted streets filled with beggars and thieves, revolutionaries and magicians. Camille Durbonne is one of them. She wishes she weren’t…

When smallpox kills her parents, Camille must find a way to provide for her younger sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on magic, Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille pursues a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Using dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into a baroness and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for magic. As she struggles to reconcile her resentment of the rich with the allure of glamour and excess, Camille meets a handsome young inventor, and begins to believe that love and liberty may both be possible.

But magic has its costs, and soon Camille loses control of her secrets. And when revolution erupts, Camille must choose―love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, reality of magic―before Paris burns.” Flatiron Books

Author Biography:

“Born in Sweden to Indian and Swedish parents, Gita Trelease has lived in lots of places, including New York, Paris, and a tiny town in central Italy. She attended Yale College and New York University, where she earned a Ph.D. in British literature. Before becoming a novelist, she taught classes on writing, monsters, and fairy tales–some of which have seeped into her stories. Along with her husband and son, Gita divides her time between an old village in Massachusetts and the coast of Maine, where she’s still searching for a secret portal that will take her back to Versailles.” -Flatiron Books

Book Review:

 

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I did not originally plan on purchasing this novel. I noticed it on several bookstagramers and heard good things about it but didn’t think it would be a book I would like at all. I was honestly intimidated in reading this book. I knew that it would be set in Paris. I do not know much of Paris and was also intimidated that it would have French terms and phrases that I would not understand and would cause me to just disconnect from the story.

There were indeed French terms throughout the story, so that is the first thing I want to note. However the author did provide a glossary at the end of the book for readers which helped a lot. I could tell the author wanted to make sure the reader really enjoyed her novel, and I extremely appreciated the inclusion of the glossary. My not having taken any French in high school or college did not affect my reading, and having that experience in this book was extremely interesting. It actually kept me more invested in the story and what the characters were saying.

The story was very interesting, and the struggle the main character endured drew me in. However, the conflict was fairly “lukewarm” in a way. The novel focused more on the characters rather than the plot or main conflict. I enjoyed the characters very much and was really glad this was not an over-dramatic, romance-filled novel. However, I did find myself at time questioning what the main conflict was. At some point, the characters seemed to forget their troubles, but it seemed like that was intentional. I found myself asking if the character even really cared about the financial difficulties that drive the beginning of the novel. At some point, I said, “Camille, it’s time to snap out of it. Remember what you told herself.”

By about forty to fifty percent into the novel, Camille’s focus changed. Or rather, she got distracted and too caught up in the elegance of her facade. I mean, I couldn’t blame her. I was just as much invested in it as she was. The elegance and beauty of it just drew me in, and I just wanted her to remain in that state longer so I could enjoy her lavishing experiences. I do admit that I wished her family conflicts drove more of the plot, but it drove it enough to lead Camille to other small conflicts and obstacles that held my attention. I expected the family struggles to provide more urgency than they actually did. However, they did eventually catch up to Camille and remind her of what she was fighting for.

Who would I recommend this to? Anyone in love with France and elegantly clever female characters. Magic lovers. Fantasy lovers. And history lovers. This book has a bit of everything. There’s a bit of romance, but it is not the main driving force of the story, which I actually enjoyed for a change. There is just enough of it to draw you in.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Justine Eyre

Eyre’s narration is excellent. I will admit that the narration at 1.0 and 1.25 speeds were too slow for me. The best listening speed for me was at 1.50 speed. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 or 1.75 speeds, so one does not miss anything. These speed were also my favorite speeds when listening to this story. For those who are listening while reading the book and want to listen at a faster pace, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. However, it is manageable. If you’re used to speed listening, 3.0 speed should be manageable. 3.5 speed was definitely too fast for me.

Other works by this Author:

Enchantée Series

  • Enchantée
Posted in Book Review Blog

The Fever King Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

The Fever King  (Feverwake Book 1)

by Victoria Lee

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To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $9.99

Hardcover: $16.99

Kindle: $4.99 (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $13.12 (Not Available on Kindle Unlimited) 

Before Reading Facts:

The Fever King by Victoria Lee was published in 2019 by Skyscape.

Page Count: 384 pages (paperback) 374 (hardcover) 376 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 13 hrs 31 mins

Chapters: 24

Languages: English

Summary of Book:

“In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.

The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaks—refugees Carolinia routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to make change, Noam accepts the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the minister’s son—cruel, dangerous, and achingly beautiful—and the way forward becomes less clear.

Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far he’s willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.” -Skyscape

Author Biography:

“Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent twelve ascetic years as a vegetarian before discovering that spicy chicken wings are, in fact, a delicacy. She’s been a state finalist competitive pianist, a hitch-hiker, a pizza connoisseur, an EMT, an expat in China and Sweden, and a science doctoral student. She’s also a bit of a snob about fancy whisky. Lee writes early in the morning and then spends the rest of the day trying to impress her border collie puppy and make her experiments work. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her partner.” -Skyscape

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I selected this title as a part of my Kindle First book. I would like to offer a disclaimer to those who are looking for books for their teenagers. This book has profanity and some sexual reference that I didn’t find appropriate for the audience. I have not read many books for this age group that maintained profanity or sexual references, so I would not know if they should have been censored some more or if those who read this type of book find it appropriate. I generally do not enjoy books with much profanity, so that was a no for me in this book. There are not as many sexual references, but the one I took note of was enough to question whether it is appropriate for the audience: “Probably went home with someone. Probably suffocating himself on dick as we speak.” For parents who are wondering if their children should read this book, I recommend having a read through themselves first to properly judge whether or not they want their teens reading this book. It is not one that I, myself, will be recommending at all to anyone.

The narrator in the story did not draw me in. The voice just did not captivate me. I found myself wondering what is the main struggle going on here, what the author’s intent was in creating such complex conflicts. I understood the character’s struggle with his technopathic ability. I had no problem with that and actually was very interested in that part of the story. That is was drew me in. However, the author seems to create more conflicts with the character’s attraction to the minister’s son. That love interesting was believable enough. The love interest was created to cause tension, and I got that.

What I did not understand was the whole undocumented and deportation part of the novel. I did not understand what the purpose of that part of the novel was about. It appeared as if the author wanted to tackle many different issues in one novel, and it just came out very confusing to me. That whole part of the story confused the hell out of me when I read it. The story takes place in Durham, North Carolina, so I was confused as to what was really going on. I just don’t think I ever got a good grasp on this world Lee created. I just never really understood this whole dystopian United States. I found myself asking, “where are they being deported to?” If all of this information was provided, then I completely missed it. Again, I was not drawn into this story, so it is possible I missed that explanation when it was explained.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but there were more cons that pros for me. I am a voice-driven reader. If the voice does not draw my attention, I give the plot a chance. If both the plot and the voice fail to draw me in, then I will not enjoy a book. If this is a book that I did not have the audiobook for, I would have stopped reading and added it to my DNF shelf on Goodreads. The only reason I got through this book was because of the audiobook, and even then, I only listened while working on other things.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Michael Crouch

Crouch’s narration was well done. The narration was not overenthusiastic, and I am not quit sure it really captured the character’s personality that well, but it was not bad in a way where I couldn’t listen. I did not enjoy listening at 1.0 speed; the narration is not enthusiastic, and listening at a 1.0 speed was frustrating. The narration at 1.25 speed is a bit more tolerable but still not quite good enough for me. I had to speed the narration up to 1.50 speed; that was the slowest speed I would listen to. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.75 or 2.0 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found  2.5 speed to be the best. 3.0 and 3.5 speeds were too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed.  

Other works by this Author:

The Fever King Series

  • The Fever King
  • The Electric Heir
Posted in Book Review Blog

Watching You Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Watching You

by Lisa Jewell

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $16.99

Hardcover: $26.00

Kindle: $12.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $21.43 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Watching You by Lisa Jewell was published in 2018 by Atria Books.

Page Count: 336 pages (paperback) 336 (hardcover) 337 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 10 hrs 50 mins

Chapters: 69

Languages: English 

Summary of Book:

“The instant New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone delivers another page-turner about a shocking murder in a picturesque English town.

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Bristol, England, home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret and prying eyes lurk behind every curtain.

In Lisa Jewell’s latest brilliant “bone-chilling suspense” (People), no one is who they seem. Who has been murdered—and who would have wanted one of their neighbors dead? Watching You will keep you guessing until the startling revelation on the very last page.” – Atria Books

Author Biography:

“Lisa Jewell is the internationally best-selling author of sixteen novels, including the New York Times bestseller Then She Was Gone, as well as I Found You, The Girls in the Garden, and The House We Grew Up In. Her debut novel, Ralph’s Party, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and more recently her books have become #1 bestsellers in Canada and the UK. Her novels have sold millions of copies across the English-speaking world. Her work has also been translated into sixteen languages. 

Lisa lives in London with her husband and their two daughters. Connect with her on Twitter @lisajewelluk, on Instagram @lisajewelluk, and on Facebook @listajewellofficial.” -Atria Books

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I read this novel for the Livre d’Amour book club. This was the first novel I have read by Lisa Jewell and was fairly nervous in reading something different. Partially, I was curious and excited as well. I was interested to fall in love with yet another author’s work. I therefore, dove into this novel with a positive mind, excited to see what world Jewell would take me into.

When I began reading, I noticed that the first couple of chapters introduce several different characters. I was fairly hesitant because I didn’t know who to attach myself to. I wanted a character to follow, so the beginning threw me for a loop. I did note, however, that the introduction of each character was done very effectively. Jewell gives you a blurb into the lives of these characters, giving you just enough to get to know them but not so much that you feel overwhelmed by so much information from the get go.

However, once the characters were introduced, the story began to unravel and intertwine. I was immersed into the lives of these characters. I didn’t know who the victim was going to end up being, so I found myself reading more and more to find out it was. I couldn’t decide who my favorite character was; I really enjoyed multiple characters. Jewell did a phenomenal job in creating multiple characters that readers can latch on to. One of my favorites was Freddie. I really enjoyed his interaction in the story and reminded me a lot of the boy in Home Alone 3.

The chapters are mostly short, and the story follows multiple characters throughout. However, it is very simple to follow the story, and the fact that Jewell waited until a chapter ended before moving to the next character was an extremely wise choice and one that I really loved. The story kept me guessing as to who would be murdered and who the killer would be, and considering I do not originally choose murder mysteries as my first choice, I can safely say that I would read more written by Jewell.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Gabrielle Glaister

Glaister’s narration was amazing and really drew me in. Her narration at 1.0 speed was too slow for me, but starting at 1.25 speed, her narration was excellent. The best listening speed for me was at 1.50 speed. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 or 1.75 speeds, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book and want to listen at a faster pace, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. However, it is manageable. If you’re used to speed listening, 3.0 speed should be manageable. 3.5 speed was definitely too fast for me.

Other works by this Author:

  • Then She Was Gone
  • I Found You
  • The Girls in the Garden
  • The Third Wife
  • The House We Grew Up In
  • Before I Met You
  • The Making of Us
  • After the Party
  • The Truth About Melody Browne
  • 31 Dream Street
  • A Friend of the Family
  • Vince & Joy
  • One-Hit Wonder
  • Thirtynothing 
Posted in Book Review Blog

The Release Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

The Release

by Tom Isbell

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $9.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Kindle: $9.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $21.95 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

The Release by Tom Isbell was published in 2017 by HarperTeen.

Page Count: 368 pages (paperback) 368 (hardcover) 373 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 08 hrs 00 mins

Chapters: 61

Languages: English 

Summary of Book:

“Two months have passed since Book, Cat, Hope, and the others rescued the remaining Less Thans, but no one is safe yet. The group must leave Liberty for good and escape the wolves, the Brown Shirts, and the Hunters. Most important, they need to stop Chancellor Maddox before she executes her Final Solution and grows even more powerful.

But for Hope, the battle has become personal; she must seek her revenge, no matter what the cost.

The Prey trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion in The Release, as the group must risk everything–including their lives–in order to defeat their enemies” HarperTeen

Author Biography:

“Tom Isbell is an actor-author-professor: A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, he has acted in theater, film, and TV, working opposite Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, Sarah Jessica Parker, and others. Currently a theater professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, he has had three of his plays produced by the Theater for Young Audiences at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major, which was adapted into a book with then-First Lady Laura Bush penning the foreword. Tom and his wife, Pat, live in Duluth, Minnesota. You can visit him online at www.tomisbell.com. ” -HarperTeen

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

The Release is an amazing ending to The Prey trilogy! This third and final book brings together the major events that began to surface in the first book, and the ending to not only the book but to the entire series is just so satisfying. I did not stop reading once I started and tackled this book in the course of two days. There was so much action, just as the first two books! I was constantly fearing for all of the characters’ lives that I could not put the book down.

This third part to The Prey series brings to light some final new revelations and puts everything into perspective for the reader. The reader learns much more about the world these characters are in and the intentions Chancellor Maddox has. I do want to admit that I got a little aggravated with Hope at the beginning of the novel, but I find that in the end she redeems herself.

This entire series has been an amazing read, and I anticipate many more great works by Tom Isbell. I did not hear too much buzz as the release of the third book approached and think this is a series that many do not know and are missing out on. I do hope more people give this series a chance, for I absolutely loved it!

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Christian Barillas and Ariana Delawari

Barillas and Delawari do an excellent job narrating this final part of the series. I do not know if there is more to say on these narrators as they do an amazing work narrating story as they have done for the past two books. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 speed, so one does not miss anything. Once more, this speed is also my favorite speed to listen to this story. It is not too fast nor to slow. For those who are listening while reading the book and want to listen at a faster pace, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

The Prey Series

  • The Prey
  • The Capture
  • The Release
Posted in Book Review Blog

Lady Smoke Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Lady Smoke

by Laura Sebastian

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $16.01

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $18.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $26.95 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian was published in 2019 by Delacorte Press.

Page Count: 512 pages (paperback) 512 (hardcover) 500 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 13 hours 29 minutes

Chapters: N/A (Book is not divided into numbered chapters)

Languages: English

Summary of Book:

“The Kaiser murdered Theodosia’s mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took her country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess–a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn’t realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.

Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. she has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage–Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser’s rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.

To get them back she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.

Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.” -Delacorte Press

Author Biography:

“Laura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in New York City. Laura is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ash Princess and its sequel, Lady Smoke.” -Delacorte Press

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

After reading Ash Princess and falling in love with the story, I had to get my hands on the sequel! I pre-ordered Lady Smoke and got it in the mail the day it came out. I put all I had planned for that afternoon and dove right in. I got through about half of the novel that first night; I simply did not want to stop. This novel is an amazing continuation to Ash Princess.

This novel picks up after Theo’s escaping the grasp of the Kaiser in the first novel. Theo now fights to gain alliances to take back her throne. Though, she finds herself in a tricky situation. To accomplish her goal, she must sacrifice much of the freedom she fought so hard to gain. She has to negotiate and find the best ally to help her take back her country. She goes through a long journey full of danger and adventure. I was annoyed for a long portion of this novel. In the first novel, I was so annoyed with the Kaiser. I hated him, which was the point of his character. I wanted Theo to kill him and could not wait for that grand finale. It did not end how I wanted, but it gave me hope for good things to come in Lady Smoke.

In Lady Smoke, I was so annoyed, in the same manner, with Dragonsbane. I mean, in a sense, her character is trying to help the naive Theo get the best alliance, but Dragonsbane just got on my nerves. I had hopes that she would be like a Professor Snape character: one readers hate/are annoyed with until the very end. That hope for the character kept me invested in her as a character. I wanted her to actually become likable.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Saskia Maarleveld

Maarleveld does an such an  excellent job narrating this second novel in the Ash Princess series! She effectively captivates the emotions of the characters and gives the listening experience a satisfactory feeling of being submerged in the story. However, just as the first novel, I did have to read at more than a 1.5 speed. 1.0 speed was too slow for me, and was quite dreadful to listen in that speed. At 1.25 speed, Maarleveld’s narration is about the speed I read, so I enjoyed it at that speed more. However, I did want to get through it quicker so I listened to it at a faster listening speed. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Ash Princess Series

  • Ash Princess
  • Lady Smoke