Pawsitively in Love is a cute new romance novel by M.J. O’Shea, author of Rock Bay, one of my favorite gay romance series. Although the title would lePawsitively in Love is a cute new romance novel by M.J. O’Shea, author of Rock Bay, one of my favorite gay romance series. Although the title would lead you to the conclusion that it’s very light and entirely angst free, the book actually has several darker moments and a lot of issues for our two heroes to deal with.
Austin is a fantastic romance hero, open and earnest, with nothing to hide. He has a lovely family and a fantastic group of friends, and if he occasionally suffers from insecurity caused by his lack of education, he deals with it in good time. Despite owning a successful pet salon and being surrounded by amazing people, Austin is often lonely. When Evan first shows up, Austin reacts a bit strangely to the first person he’s been attracted to in a while and they end up in a series of ugly misunderstandings.
Unlike Austin, Evan is closed off and solitary. He has family issues that always come in the way of his relationships, so he simply stopped trying. He gets lonely, but dating someone is too much hassle when he knows it can’t possibly last. Austin is the first person to tempt him to change his mind. But when Evan’s sister suddenly shows up in town, Evan knows he can’t have a normal relationship and take care of Della.
I really expected a super light romance after seeing the cover and the title, but the actual story was a bit darker than expected. Evan’s family struggles with some serious issues and he’s quick to lash out at anyone willing to help. No matter how much he wants it, he isn’t ready for a relationship with Austin, not until he resolves some of his problems, and it leads to a lot of heartbreak for them both.
The narrator, Mark Schindler, did an excellent job reading this light, entertaining story. Sometimes the switches between the two points of view weren’t very clear and I had to struggle to understand whose thoughts I was listening to, but that had less to do with Mark and more to do with production. There should have been a longer pause, a chapter break or something along those lines. For his part, Mark delivered the story well, with a sure and pleasant voice. If you decide to read this, audio is a good way to go.
Overall, this is an enjoyable story with some (but not too many) heart-wrenching moments. I highly recommend it for a relaxing weekend read.
Robyn Carr is famous for her two series, Virgin River and Thunder Point. With Thunder Point nearing its end, I was so very excited to see that she’s sRobyn Carr is famous for her two series, Virgin River and Thunder Point. With Thunder Point nearing its end, I was so very excited to see that she’s starting a new series, with yet another small town community at its center. It was clear from the start that Sullivan’s Crossing has a whole lot of potential, with so many interesting characters already prepared to take the spotlight.
What We Find, however, wasn’t quite up to Robyn Carr’s standards. Centered around Maggie and Cal, What We Find shows both of them during their most vulnerable time. They both have reasons to be a little bit lost and disillusioned. As a neurosurgeon, Maggie is being sued for malpractice, her practice is closed and her boyfriend of two years abandoned her after a miscarriage. She goes to regroup to the only place she feels completely safe – her father’s camping ground and store at Sullivan’s Crossing. There she meets Cal, a homeless hiker with secrets. She is distrustful at first even though Cal tries very hard to help her and her father. She is curious about his story and more than willing to pry, but Cal keeps his reasons for wandering very close to his chest.
Although Carr’s characters are very much alive, What We Find suffers from a serious lack of plot. Nothing actually happens in it. We follow these people as they slowly uncover each other’s secrets and admit their feelings for each other. I usually prefer romances with very little tension and angst, but there has to be something to keep me engaged. Aside from the secondary characters like Maggie’s father Sully or neighbor Tom, there was very little to keep me turning those pages.
I think I was mostly bothered by the lack of chemistry between Maggie and Cal. It didn’t seem like one of those romances that are meant to be, but rather a marriage of convenience for two wounded souls. Books with no tension and very little plot have to make up for it somehow, and a strong magnetic pull between characters is usually a way to do it. Unfortunately, What We Find was mostly unsuccessful in that, and almost every other department.
The book was saved, as so many books are, by Therese Plummer’s fantastic narration. Yes, she’s one of those narrators who could read grocery lists and make them interesting. She brings characters to life and ads something uniquely hers to every story she reads. I will read the next book in this series because I trust Carr to make it a whole lot better than this unfortunate beginning, and as always, I’ll choose Plummer to read it to me.
Chantress Fury, the final book in Amy Butler Greenfield’s YA historical fantasy trilogy, continues in the same vein as its two predecessors. It’s beauChantress Fury, the final book in Amy Butler Greenfield’s YA historical fantasy trilogy, continues in the same vein as its two predecessors. It’s beautifully written, gorgeously detailed, deeply emotional and romantic. Greenfield’s writing is elegant and perfectly polished. It’s something I always admired about her – her style is graceful and flawless without being flashy or disruptive. She also does a lot of research, so even though her story is filled with magic, it is loosely based in reality. King Henry in Lucy’s story is Henry Seymour, an actual historical figure and a distant relative to King Charles I.
Chantress Fury takes place in the early 1670’s and the world Greenfield paints for us is gorgeous: a dash of court politics, a formidable enemy, considerable magic and a romance to remember. Lucy truly discovers her powers in this book, but with such powers come solitude and isolation. People either fear her or want to use her in some way, and besides, King Henry leaves her very little time to socialize. Lucy’s loneliness was heartbreaking in this book and the amount of emotion that came through made me admire Greenfield even more.
I mentioned the romance, which I loved from the start, but oddly enough it was Fury’s weakest point. I wanted to see a united front from Lucy and Nat, but instead I saw stubbornness and a whole lot of misunderstandings. Truly these two needed to talk things through and face their enemies together, instead of fretting over silly things and being pigheaded and proud.
Mary Jane Wells narrates the story beautifully, just like the previous two. She has a soft British accent and a really pleasant voice, which is just right for our Lucy. She was able to convey and even amplify the feeling of loneliness and isolation. She mostly narrates stories I’m not really interested in (some historical romances, for example), but I hope she’ll get a chance to read more YA. She is truly wonderful.
Minor grievances with romance aside, the Chantress trilogy is everything you could ever hope to read. The writing is smooth and just wonderful, the world is gorgeous, and Lucy is a character you’ll never forget.
Delilah S. Dawson is an author whose previous work I thoroughly enjoyed. Her adult paranormal romance series fought through my PNR allergies thanks toDelilah S. Dawson is an author whose previous work I thoroughly enjoyed. Her adult paranormal romance series fought through my PNR allergies thanks to Ann Aguirre’s wholehearted recommendation, so when Delilah started writing in a genre I actually enjoy, I was over the moon. Her first YA book, Servants of the Storm, certainly had its problems, but it was delightfully creepy overall and I really enjoyed the tone. Hit is a very different book, with a very different dynamic, although no less spine-chilling.
Hit takes us to a near future, the very beginnings of a dystopian society, with most citizens still blissfully unaware. What was formerly known as Valor Savings bank (and now just Valor Savings) bought out the government and all institutions and is now, quite legally, the owner of America. They don’t actually need more money, but they want the debt reduced, so they send out collections agents free to kill people who can’t instantly return what they owe.
Each able-bodied person gets a choice: either work for Valor Savings as their agent for five days (which of course means becoming a cold-blooded killer), or forfeit your life to the bank. The fine print on people’s credit card contracts makes the blackmail and murder entirely legal – not that there’s anyone left to enforce the laws. Presented with the same choice due to her mother’s debt, Patsy makes the decision to spend five days working for Valor Savings. She gets a gun, a mail truck, and a list of ten names.
Patsy is the protagonist of this story, but she is by no means a heroine. She is a killer, and while she might be shaped by her circumstances, her constant claims that Valor Savings left her with no choice sounded like empty excuses. She chose to kill ten people in order to saver herself and her alcoholic mother, she chose to do what they told her to work off her mother’s debt. It was hard to follow her sometimes, seeing how she neatly convinced herself that things were completely out of her hands.
Rebekkah Ross is a fabulous narrator and she saved this book for me at times, especially when it became too hard to sympathize with Patsy. Her voice is well suited for a young character, and her characterization is excellent, even for male voices.
Although it poses many questions, Hit gives us very few answers. We still don’t know the true nature of Valor Savings or their plan, we know nothing of Patsy’s mother and especially her father, and we don’t know whether her plan actually worked. The answers will hopefully be revealed in Strike, but we’ll have to wait until March 2016 to get them.
3.5 stars End of Days is the conclusion we’ve all been anxiously waiting to read since early 2011, when Susan Ee first released what was to become a se3.5 stars End of Days is the conclusion we’ve all been anxiously waiting to read since early 2011, when Susan Ee first released what was to become a self-published sensation. Angelfall was quite a surprise for readers and publishers alike and luckily, the quality was recognized on all sides. But if Angelfall was a huge success, the book that followed, World After, was an even bigger hit. Not only did Ee manage to reach the same level of excellence, she somehow doubled the excitement and our own emotional investment.
It’s pretty clear that End of Days had some big shoes to fill, but unfortunately, the conclusion to Susan Ee’s trilogy was born with relatively small feet. All on its own, this book would have been something to talk about, but compared to the previous two, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights. From the beginning, it was extremely difficult to scrounge up the excitement we were left with in World After. While funny and filled with witty banter, this third book seemed rather aimless and poorly structured. Admittedly, I may be a bit harsh, but it’s only because my expectations were sky high.
The good news is that Penryn and Raffe spend most of this book together. We’ve seen them change from enemies to reluctant companions to trusted friends and eventually something more. And while the ‘something more’ part still can’t be if Raffe is to rejoin his own kind, the bond between these two, the true friendship and companionship, is undeniable. Although his honor demands that he maintain his distance, it is only a physical distance he keeps, and even that with limited success.
The tension between them is delicious, perhaps not quite as exciting as before, but palpable nevertheless. That could be the source of my biggest disappointment – after all the build-up, the ending seemed rather anti-climactic on all fronts. It was fine, I suppose, but if ‘fine’ is the best we can do right after ‘spectacular’, something obviously went wrong somewhere.
Be that as it may, it needs to be said that Caitlyn Davis did a spectacular job with her narration once again. I honestly didn’t like her in any of the other audiobooks she narrated, but hers is the perfect voice for Penryn and in this case, it adds a lot to the story itself. If you do decide to read this trilogy, and I definitely recommend it, then audio might be the better choice.
3.5 stars This is Your Afterlife first came to my attention because of its beautiful cover and the person behind it – our very own Jenny from Seedlings3.5 stars This is Your Afterlife first came to my attention because of its beautiful cover and the person behind it – our very own Jenny from Seedlings and Supernatural Snark. The cover reflects the book perfectly: it is upbeat, sweet and light. Just what the doctor ordered. If you’re looking for a comfort read, look no further. This book will make you laugh, swoon, and despite its title, it will leave you smiling ear to ear.
Keira’s former crush and her school’s football star shows up one day in her bedroom, but alas, he is no longer alive. Jimmy is Keira’s first ghost, but she isn’t surprised. Her recently deceased Grandma had the same gift. Keira and Jimmy have very little history between them, except in Keira’s imagination, but an easy friendship develops fairly quickly and Keira is determined to find Jimmy’s killer, regardless of the cost.
Unlike with Jimmy, she has far more history with his brother Dan. Jimmy may have been a safe infatuation, but Dan was the real deal – her best friend and confidant, until she hurt him terribly in eighth grade. Finding a way back from all the hurt isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely necessary if they’re to help Jimmy and send him safely to his real afterlife.
I liked Keira a lot, and I simply adored Jimmy and Dan. The mystery part of this book is very predictable, which leaves the three main characters in charge of keeping us happily reading nevertheless, and these three do their job beautifully. Spending time in their company was so heartwarming and pleasant, I truly didn’t want to leave them at all.
Stephanie Bentley narrated the story beautifully. Her voice sounds young, which is a definite advantage when you’re borrowing your voice to a 16-year-old. I’ve been known to abandon YA audiobooks because the narrators sounded too old, but with Bentley, that’s really not an issue. To make things even better, her voice characterization is fantastic. I’ve already checked out other books narrated by her on Audible and there are several I won’t hesitate to buy.
This is Your Afterlife is a perfect book for those days when you find yourself tired of angst and unnecessary drama and you just want to relax with a sweet, undemanding read. It is a book about second chances and forgiveness, and while it may be slightly predictable at times, even that can be oddly relaxing.
There are days when I need a serious book, days when I need to read something relaxing, and days when I need to be shaken to my very core. There are bThere are days when I need a serious book, days when I need to read something relaxing, and days when I need to be shaken to my very core. There are books that are appropriate for each of those days, but only one I can think of that’s appropriate for all of them. From a reader’s point of view, Shattered Glass is a dream come true.
Austin Glass is a vice detective, a trust fund baby and an aspiring FBI agent. He is young, successful, competent, instantly likeable and engaged to a gorgeous, intelligent woman. But there’s one thing Austin Glass isn’t – he most certainly is not gay. So then why can’t he stop obsessing about a gorgeous busboy in bunny slippers? Why can’t he get those darn bunny slippers out of his head? If only he could buy the man some shoes, something safe and unattractive like loafers – all his problems would surely disappear.
“I'm not gay.” That wasn't what I meant to say. “Congratulations. Would you like a medal?” Bunny Slippers asked. “I already have a medal. For bravery, not for being gay. I think you made me gay.” “I made you gay?” He set down the napkin he was holding. “Is that better or worse than the person who made you stupid?”
Peter, or Bunny Slippers if you prefer, is a study in contradictions. He is rude, but has an obvious vulnerable side. He is a (former) prostitute, but he has very high standards. He gave up on his education, but he is astonishingly smart. He used to sell drugs, but he cares for his younger brothers with everything he has. Needless to say, Austin is enchanted. Gay or not, staying away from Peter becomes impossible overnight. Dating a former male prostitute isn’t the smartest thing you can do when you’re a vice detective, but Austin will give it his best nevertheless. Turning his life upside down is a small price to pay to get Bunny Slippers in his bed. And when it turns out that Bunny Slippers comes with a whole lot of baggage – baggage that shoots to kill more often than not – Austin still chooses to go ahead with it. He just laughs it off and marches bravely ahead. Peter is not so easy to convince. While Austin jumps in without regard for his life or career, Peter is far too careful to trust a spoiled rich boy. But Austin’s charm is impossible to resist for too long and pretty soon their lives, and Austin’s investigation, become a huge tangled mess.
"Is he my competition?" “Everyone is your competition.” Peter lifted his hand to his eyes and began lowering it incrementally. “It goes normal human beings, crazies, republicans, my hand, imaginary characters, corpses and then, in a moment of lustful psychosis, you.”By the time he was done, his hand was below the table. Ouch. “A little over the top, don’t you think?” “No.”
If it isn’t clear from the previous two quotes, here is it: Shattered Glass is hilarious. With chapter titles like Dear God, I’ll Take That Lobotomy Now. Thanks, Austin. and How to Win Friends and Alienate Albanian Table-lovers , I promise you you’ll laugh until you drop. What makes the book truly stand out, however, is Austin’s voice. He is one of the most honest, refreshing characters I’ve ever stumbled upon. Upon meeting Peter, his life is turned upside down. Although he does things that aren’t exactly honorable, he is always wonderfully upfront and honest about them. So honest, in fact, that even his (ex) fiancè can’t stay mad for too long.
The mystery part of this story requires some suspension of disbelief, but trust me when I tell you, you won’t care one bit. You’ll fall in love with Austin on page two and fall head over heels for Peter not long after. Once you meet Cai, it’s pretty much a done deal – you’ll want to stay with this gang forever.
Finally, let me say this. I’ve read this book first, and enjoyed it on audio just a few months later. As far as I’m concerned, audio is by far the best way to go. From what I can tell, this is the only book Joseph Northton has narrated so far, which is undoubtedly a tragedy. Austin’s voice is delightful and hilarious all on its own, but Northton added an extra layer of humor with his spectacular narration, turning this into a book I couldn’t listen to while driving because I was laughing too darn hard. You try driving while constantly laughing to tears. If you’re an audioobok fan, definitely go with that, but any format works. Not reading this, however, is simply not an option.
If I had to compare Austin with another character, I’d say he’s the male Charley Davidson, minus the paranormal element. He is just so incredibly funny and honest, he reminded me of Charley right from the start. So if you like Charley, read this. And if you don’t, read it anyway. Really. Preferably now.
4.5 stars A quick note: This was supposed to be an LGBT Monday review, but the first thing you need to know about THIRDS agent Dexter J. Dal
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4.5 stars A quick note: This was supposed to be an LGBT Monday review, but the first thing you need to know about THIRDS agent Dexter J. Daley is that he lives to bend the rules. He never does what he’s told, so I knew better than to schedule this post on a day that would actually make sense. That’s Dex for you: loving, unruly, and hilarious.
In Dex’s world, being gay is perfectly normal and accepted, but the two co-existing species, humans and therians, are constantly at war. Humans fear the shapeshifting Therians, and Therians resent being forced to register and get tattoos on their necks. The conflict is always brewing and acts of terrorism from both sides are far too common. Enter Therian-Human Intelligence, Recon, Defense Squadron, also known as the THIRDS, whose only mission is to keep the peace between the two races.
Agents Dexter Daley and Sloane ‘Broody Bear’ Brodie are THIRDS agents. One is human and the other is therian. They are both excellent agents, but personally they’re as different as they can be. They are also partners, on and off work. Dex is a half-glass-full type of person, loveable, extroverted and funny. He is very close to his father and brother and he makes friends with seeming ease. Sloane Brodie is none of the above. Having lost his previous partner and lover, he is very careful with his feelings. It’s always one step forward, two steps back between him and Dex. But he is strong, honest and fair, even when someone doesn’t deserve it.
Rise & Fall is the fourth book in Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS series, and like the three before, it left me completely in awe. This is how everyone should write paranormal fiction, M/M fiction, action, romance… everything. This is how everyone should write. Enough said.
I remember starting this series with a very healthy dose of skepticism. I didn’t need another Cut & Run series, with two amazing, all-powerful agents perfect in everything they do. I wanted strong, but fallible men with a great sense of humor and a romance I could actually enjoy. But Charlie Cochet must have known exactly what her readers crave because she gave us a series that is both amazing and insanely popular.
I can’t say too much about the plot in Rise & Fall for fear of spoiling some important detail from the previous two books, but I can say that this book is the biggest emotional rollercoaster so far. By now, the Destructive Delta agents are all very familiar to us: Ash, Cael, Letty, Hobbs and others have become our close friends. There’s so much going on in this series, plenty of action and danger from all sides, but the characters are what makes it truly stand out, and their weird dynamic a constant source of amusement.
Mark Westfield narrates the story beautifully. He is the perfect person to bring us Dex’s light-hearted perspective. Every emotion comes through loud and clear in his voice, and although I read this one the second it came out, I couldn’t resist getting the audio when it finally showed up.
I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for excitement, excellent characters and a whole lot of action. Oh, and laughter. Lots and lots of it. ...more
3.5 stars Gina Damico, author of the Croak trilogy, is known first and foremost for her fabulous sense of humor. Her books are always hilarious, which 3.5 stars Gina Damico, author of the Croak trilogy, is known first and foremost for her fabulous sense of humor. Her books are always hilarious, which more than makes up for the occasionally weak plots. On the surface, Hellhole is a pretty weak story about a boy who accidentally ends up taking care of the devil (one of 666 of them, apparently) and makes all sorts of ill-advised bargains with him along the way. But there are many other things underneath, and it’s precisely those things that make this book worth your time.
The beginning and the ending were actually Hellhole’s weakest points. The beginning seemed slightly ridiculous as there was no good reason for Max to end up with Berg. The whole digging-up-the-devil business made very little sense and I felt that Max’s whole predicament lost some weight because of how it came about. The ending on the other hand felt rushed and non-sensical and it made my head spin with how quickly everything was wrapped up. I had maybe twenty minutes left of my audiobook and nothing was resolved, which made me panic slightly, and then before I knew it, everything was set to rights.
The middle part, however, was an absolute delight, what with all the humor and the explorations of Max’s character. A boy in his situation could so easily be swayed by the forces of evil, and it was touch-and-go for a while there since he kept making so many poor choices that almost led him to the point of no redemption. That psychological aspect of the story that can be pondered and discussed if one is willing to dig just a little deeper is something I truly didn’t expect from Damico, but it made Hellhole a much better and far more worthy experience.
The romance developed slowly, gradually, from poorly hidden disdain to reluctant friendship and finally to love. I really enjoyed the fact that Max had a best friend who was never anything more, and that he managed to endear himself to Lore despite his inability to talk to girls. Word vomit is a term that certainly applies to Max and his predicament was always equal parts endearing and exasperating.
MacLeod Andrews is quickly turning out to be one of the few narrators that can be relied upon completely. He is the male version of Lorelei King – fabulously funny, extremely capable, with a voice laced with humor and a talent for voice characterization. I still maintain that his female voices need more work, but overall, his performance is always superb.
All in all, Hellhole is a standalone, it’s adorable and it will make you laugh. When you add to that MacLeod Andrews’ fabulous voice, you know you’re in for a treat.
Calamity! I can’t believe it’s over! I’ve waited so long to read this… When this trilogy started, I’d been mostly unfamiliar with Mr. Sanders3.5 stars
Calamity! I can’t believe it’s over! I’ve waited so long to read this… When this trilogy started, I’d been mostly unfamiliar with Mr. Sanderson’s work, but his easy style and humor won me over in a heartbeat. This trilogy has been a favorite of mine since the very beginning, and while the ending didn’t quite provide the entertainment I was hoping for, it was nevertheless a satisfying finale that gave me answers and more or less the type conclusion I was hoping for.
Calamity starts with a bang and continues on a very high note throughout. The Reckoners are irrevocably changed and it’s up to David to decide their next move. Although he’s the newest member, his knowledge on the epics allows him to make solid decisions and mostly follow through on his plans. No matter how much things around him change, David remains the same – awkward and funny, and always optimistic. Even the events in Firefight didn’t crush his never-ending optimism, and while it’s sometimes annoying, it’s also childlike and honest and it sometimes leads to very good things. Where others would give up, David just plows through with very little regard for his own safety, and he darn well does with a smile and an endless supply of truly stupid similes.
Calamity isn’t without its issues, but pacing isn’t among them. I liked how the story progressed and all the action was both exciting and funny. The only thing I struggled with was David’s slowness in figuring out what was going on. He wasn’t doing a whole lot of thinking, especially for someone who was in charge of so many lives. I did feel that Sanderson got tangled in his own plotlines a tiny bit. The alternate universes brought more confusion than answers and in the end, they seemed like an easy fix, a neat solution for every problem out there. I can’t really say more and avoid spoilers, but some things could have been dealt with differently and certainly more elegantly.
It needs to be said though that I generally don’t read series about corrupt superheroes for their great literary value, so I’m quite content with being properly entertained. If I laugh out loud a few times along the way (which I did), all the better. While the series didn’t have much of an emotional impact, I’ll certainly go back to reread it every now and again.
I think I would have liked this book a lot less on paper, but McLeod Andrews is every listener’s dream. He brings such humor into the story and he knows exactly how to make the important details stand out without giving too much away. He is a fabulous narrator, one of those rare stars who can narrate just about anything and make it sound amazing. So Audible Studios, if you’re listening, more books narrated by Andrews, please.
The heart-stopping conclusion to Michelle Hodkin’s Mara Dyer trilogy is everything you want a finale to be – more tense, more violent, more exciting, The heart-stopping conclusion to Michelle Hodkin’s Mara Dyer trilogy is everything you want a finale to be – more tense, more violent, more exciting, more romantic, and just more! Although it was safe to expect as much, it was still a relief to discover that this wonderful author found a way to give us more of everything. Leaving Mara was by no means easy, but me suffering from a book hangover is a sure sign that the author did everything right. And she did.
As usual, we find our Mara in a world of trouble. Her circumstances have changed significantly, her support system has changed, her family has changed and, most of all, Mara has changed. The girl we find in The Retribution is not the same girl we remember. Having lost everything she had to lose, Mara awakened a deep part of herself, her true nature, and it’s wilder and more dangerous than anything we could have imagined.
I must say that I rather enjoyed seeing Mara embrace her dark side. It’s not something I could possibly have issues with – the characters are meant to be pushed to their limits, they are supposed to transform, and for Mara, the path she chose was only natural, after being manipulated and pushed around for so long. Away from her family and from Noah, scared, burdened with guilt and hungry for revenge, she became someone else entirely, someone I pitied and feared all at the same time.
“Look,” I said to Daniel and Jamie, “what’s the most terrifying thing you can think of in these tunnels? Rats? Mole people?” “Evil mastermind hell bent on killing you?” Jamie suggested. “Wrong. The most terrifying thing in these tunnels is me.”
The pacing around the middle was a bit of a problem, but that is often the case with final books in trilogies. We expect so much and it’s easy to start feeling resentful and restless when things slow down even a little bit. The explosive beginning and more-than-satisfactory ending made up for the weaker middle part, though, and the book as a whole was even more than I hoped for. I also felt that things weren’t neatly resolved in the end, which can be a good thing if done right, but in this case, it didn’t sit well with me. Some of the people behind the conspiracy against Mara and others like her escaped free and clear, which bothered me immensely. I suppose Hodkin wanted to show that money really does run the world, and she was right to do it, but this particular character made me so angry and I really wanted to see at least some consequences for their actions.
As usual, Christy Romano made this experience so much better. She is a fabulous narrator and it didn’t take much for her to become Mara’s voice in my head. Like the previous two, the audiobook was done excellently, without a single flaw I could point out. This is the only series Romano has ever narrated, having been talked into it by the author herself, but I truly hope she won’t stop there. I’m looking forward to more books from her.
All in all, my time with Mara and Noah was well spent and I’ll surely be going back to them at some point. They are a part of my fictional army now, along with Juliette and Warner, Deuce and Fade, and many, many more.
In many ways, The Evolution of Mara Dyer is a better book than its predecessor. It’s certainly a more mature work, free of the usual genre tropes. WhiIn many ways, The Evolution of Mara Dyer is a better book than its predecessor. It’s certainly a more mature work, free of the usual genre tropes. While The Unbecoming was emotionally challenging, The Evolution takes things a step further as our uncertainty and fear for Mara reach a whole new level.
After a horrible, terrifying event, Mara wakes up in a psychiatric hospital. Her family doesn’t believe her, and rightfully so. Mara has a history of PTSD and hallucinations that occasionally caused her to hurt herself horribly. However, while their lack of faith is certainly understandable, we can’t help but wish that someone, especially Mara’s mother, would finally listen to her. Her experience in the hospital leaves her (and us) with a horrible taste of betrayal in our mouths. Reason goes out the window when everyone but Noah turns their back on poor Mara.
Once again Hodkin shows her excellent sense of pacing and her ability to build tension to almost unbearable levels. Mara’s story is infinitely creepy, with danger lurking from every corner. No one but Noah can be trusted, and even Mara’s brothers have to be kept in the dark. Mara is the most unreliable of narrators, and fully aware of it. She often doubts the events around her, even as they’re taking place. The uncertainty doesn’t help matters, especially when she’s in danger and frozen because she doesn’t know whether the peril is real or hallucinated. Her constant questioning was painful and realistic, although occasionally frustrating.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy were the flashbacks of Mara’s (well, someone’s) life in India. They were so randomly thrown into the story and they were terribly disruptive. I didn’t really see the point, but hopefully their significance will become clear in the third book. As it is, I found it hard to concentrate during those chapters.
I didn’t know this before, but Christy Romano was chosen by Michelle Hodkin herself to narrate these books. Apparently her voice reminded Hodkin so much of Mara that she invited Christy to borrow her voice first for the trailer, and then for the audiobooks as well. The audiobook is truly of the highest quality. It’s quite obvious that a lot of time and effort was put into it. After the story, the audio version includes an interview between Hodkin and Romano, which gives us a chance to learn more about both the writing and the audio recording process.
We are once again left with a horrible cliffhanger, but there’s finally hope for Mara as well. Hurt beyond comprehension and separated from everything she holds dear, Mara is finally finding the strength to stand up to her enemies. There’s a true fighter somewhere in there, and I believe that she’s finally waking up. We’ll just have to wait and see.
I’ll be starting the final book as soon as possible. I don’t see how things could possibly end well for Mara and Noah, but I have faith in Hodkin, and I certainly have plenty of faith in Mara.
Sometimes, a book you least expect to like takes you completely by surprise. Sometimes, even though you respect their opinion, you disagree with some Sometimes, a book you least expect to like takes you completely by surprise. Sometimes, even though you respect their opinion, you disagree with some of your most trusted friends. For me, this is one of those times.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer wasn’t at all what I expected. I was warned about the love interest, about the heroine, about the plot and about the romance itself. I was told that the story makes little sense, that the romance is forced and unbelievable, that the love interest is just another version of Edward Cullen and that the heroine is simply too unmemorable, and occasionally even too stupid to live.
I must say that I respectfully disagree.
The fact of the matter is that I found the plot to be compelling and absolutely addictive; well planned, well written and incredibly suspenseful. Mara is a completely unreliable narrator, a detached, slightly unhinged, completely broken girl who hallucinates more often than not. We can’t be sure what we’re seeing, not when we’re seeing it through her eyes, and like her, we must question everything, from her friends and family to her sanity.
In addition, it must be said that I actually like Edward Cullen, and strangely enough, I rather like Noah Shaw as well. His previous romantic entanglements made me uncomfortable at first (as they were meant to, I’m sure), but as I learned more about him and witnessed his devotion to Mara, I started genuinely liking the boy.
It was actually Mara, not Noah, who gave me pause more than once. She came perilously close to the very definition of anti-heroine on several occasions, in a way that truly put me on edge. However, despite my discomfort (or possibly because of it), I appreciated Hodkin’s excellent characterization, her insightfulness and her willingness to take her characters to pretty uncomfortable places, well beyond the limit of morally and socially acceptable behavior. Mara wasn’t the only one who questioned her sanity. I questioned it constantly and there were moments when I thought she really should be put away, for her own safety and the safety of others. This is Michelle Hodkin’s true strength – she makes us love and fear a single character, be understanding and understandably wary at the same time. Mara is not a heroine in the traditional sense, but it’s quite easy to care for her nevertheless.
This story’s only true flaw, in my opinion, is that it doesn’t offer any sort of explanation for Mara’s apparent hallucinations. I’ve developed a very thick skin when it comes to cliffhangers, but at least some answers would have been most welcome. As is, I was left with hundreds of questions, very few answers, and a deep sense of dread that will likely stay with me for days to come.
Christy Romano narrated the book beautifully and added so much to the experience. Her pacing is a bit faster than normal, but it suits this story perfectly, and her voice only amplifies the overwhelming tension of the story. Mara’s emotions, as well as her strange detachment throughout the story, were clearly reflected in Romano’s voice. In addition, she did a fairly good job with Noah’s accent – she didn’t sound native, not quite, but even in that she was more than good enough.
After the crushing cliffhanger we were left with, I have no choice but to continue the story right away. Please excuse me while I go hide in the darkest, quietest corner of my house with Freya (my phone) and headphones for company.
I'm enjoying the series itself: the plots are great, writing is even better, and the audio narrator does an excellent job. My issue is that I dislike I'm enjoying the series itself: the plots are great, writing is even better, and the audio narrator does an excellent job. My issue is that I dislike Rachel so much. Hopefully that will change. ...more
Big Driver, a story originally published in King’s well-known 2010 anthology Full Dark, No Stars, was recently made into a Lifetime TV movie and airedBig Driver, a story originally published in King’s well-known 2010 anthology Full Dark, No Stars, was recently made into a Lifetime TV movie and aired in October 2014. The movie prompted a tie-in edition of the story, and the audio edition which was pulled from the original anthology audiobook.
Most days, Stephen King’s books are more than I can stomach. I generally read to avoid cruelty and real-life horror, and King’s stories bring precisely that into my merry head-in-the-sand existence. Therefore, I tend to run the other way, except in the case of Dolores Claiborne, which is one of my favorite books of all time. But this Halloween, inspired by Ann Aguirre’s beautiful guest post about human cruelty and evil, I wanted to avoid things that go bump in the night and dedicate my evening to purely human horrors instead. Big Driver seemed like an excellent choice. And it was.
Tess is a writer, but not as famous as some. I didn’t think King even remembered what not being famous was like, but Tess’s life before the attack seemed very realistic. One day, she gets invited to speak in a library and on her way back, she gets attacked, raped, brutalized and left for dead by a huge giant of a man. Slowly, as she quite literally crawls back from the brink of dead, thoughts of revenge start going through her head and she decides not to report the attack to the authorities, but to take matters into her own hands instead.
For this woman, as I saw her, becoming a victim simply wasn’t an option. She was victimized, yes, but she never fell into the mindset of a victim, and even when she came close, she responded with deep and ferocious anger instead. She was far too strong, first to die, and then to publicly become the victim of such a violent crime. Her mental process, the way her thoughts slowly went to revenge and rationalization, was simply astonishing to witness. Then again, King was always a master of characterization, the writer who understands human nature perhaps better than anyone else. With Tess, he showed that he still knows exactly what he’s doing and that he’s more than ready to show us the best and worst parts of being human, and especially those grey areas where we can’t tell which is which.
Jessica Hecht narrated this story with so much heart. Her narration made me extremely uncomfortable at times, which was precisely the point, I suppose. Narrating such and emotionally intense story likely wasn’t easy, and I can’t even imagine reading those awful rape scenes out loud. But she not only read them, she added a little something of her own, and made Big Driver a slightly better read.
This is not something that can be picked up lightly, but I’d highly recommend it. Brace yourselves, though. It’s very difficult to get through.
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
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