BOOK THOUGHTS || Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

*** please note, this review may contain spoilers***

Summed up in a sentence? "Another dark yet enticing novel in the Strike series!”

SYNOPSIS

Cormoran Strike is back, with his assistant Robin Ellacott, in a mystery based around soldiers returning from war.

When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…

Career of Evil is the third in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A mystery and also a story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives. 

MY OPINIONS

With this being the third in a series, I knew what to expect in regards to character development and the running of the novel. However, I was not expecting what I actually got! I was expecting nitty gritty, and a troublesome relationship between Strike and Robin, but what I got instead was actually so much more!

First of all, can I just point out that there is some scenes that are kind of graphic. As in, severed leg, missing body parts kind of graphic. At some points I didnt want to continue, but the graphic parts were swift and were infrequent enough to not put me off too much.

Jumping between Strike, Robin and the culprit was a technique well carried out by Galbraith, as it allowed us to see just what was going through each characters head. This is particularly helpful when trying to build a profile for the killer as well.

One of the things that stood out to me was Robins character development. Throughout this book we see her struggle to come to terms with her relationship, and the fact that it feels to her like it is no longer worth it. This is something I really felt made Robin more relatable as a character, as she has previously been seen as someone who tends to have it pretty good (in my eyes anyway).

Personally I love the series and the development of the characters over the series. I would love to see Robin get with Strike but that is definitely off the cards after Career of Evil, which is a little sad, but the prospect would always have been unrealistic anyway!

MY RATING

Overall I am giving this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only reason it wasnt a 5 star rating is because some aspects of the novel were a bit too graphic for me. However, this didnt put me off in the end, as these bits were infrequent enough to work through.

BOOK THOUGHTS || Sing by Vivi Greene

*** please note, this review may contain spoilers***

Summed up in a sentence? "a pleasant, quick read!”

I received this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley, an eARC publishing site. This is no way reflects my views.

SYNOPSIS

America’s most famous pop star flees the spotlight to recover from her latest break-up in Maine—only to fall for a local boy and be faced with an impossible choice at the end of the summer: her new guy, or her music.

Multiplatinum pop icon Lily Ross’s biggest hits and biggest heartbreaks (because they are one and the same):

1. AGONY. (That feeling when her ex ripped her heart out of her chest and she never saw it coming.)

2. GHOSTS. (Because even famous people are ghosted by guys sometimes. And it sucks just as much.) 

3. ONCE BITTEN. (As in: twice shy. Also, she’s never dating an actor or a musician ever again.)

But this summer’s going to be different. After getting her heart shattered, Lily is taking herself out of the spotlight and heading to a small island in middle-of-nowhere Maine with her closest friends. She has three months until her fall tour starts-three months to focus on herself, her music, her new album. Anything but guys.

That is . . . until Lily meets sweet, down-to-earth local Noel Bradley, who is so different from anyone she’s ever dated. Suddenly, Lily’s “summer of me” takes an unexpected turn, and she finds herself falling deeper and harder than ever before. But Noel isn’t interested in the limelight. She loves Noel-but she loves her fans, too. And come August, she may be forced to choose. 

MY OPINIONS

Okay, so on first glance, I thought this may be a little bit corny. At the time of applying for the book on NetGalley, I felt I really needed something fast-paced that I didn't need to put too much thought into reading. And this was just that.

Whilst I was reading this, I couldn't help but think that this just screamed “Taylor Swift” (if I'm even allowed to say that) at me. That doesnt mean it was all bad, it just means that a lot of it was incredibly cliché. I just had to keep telling myself that the idea behind the book, and the writing style, wasn't meant to be designed for readers of my age, but rather for a younger audience.

The plot had enough substance to keep me interested, and I really did enjoy the blossoming relationship between Lily and the islanders. They didn't see her as some sort of celebrity, which really helped her develop her sense of character and development. Again, this was cliché and actually quite cheesy in some aspects.

MY RATING

Overall I've given this book three out of five stars. Had I been younger when reading this, I dont believe my feelings would have differed at all. Yes, this read was incredibly quick, and had some lovely moments, but I just didnt think this was right for me. I can see it having a bright future down the line, but personally, it wasn't something I could see myself re-reading in the future.

BOOK THOUGHTS || Me Before You, JoJo Moyes

*** please note, this review may contain spoilers***

Summed up in a sentence? "Tear-jerker, if only I'd finished it!”

SYNOPSIS

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart ?

MY OPINIONS

I didnt finish it.

I know, I know, I'm a terrible person for not finishing THE novel of 2016, but my heart just couldnt take it. Due to the film release and such a big hype around it, I thought I had better pick it up to see what it was like. I knew that it would be emotional and knew all about the letter, but I just couldn't find it in my heart to finish it.

I got to a certain point (in the airport scene) and just thought, you know what, if it ends here, then I'll be happy. Everyone is alive, everything seems okay, no sign of death etc, but I knew it just wasn't to be. I knew that the airport scene was most likely the start of a downward spiral and knew it wasnt something I wanted to read.

Now I totally understand just how powerful a book this is. The plot-line, the writing, the captivating characters. But the more I read it, the more I just felt myself getting more and more upset at the prospect of the ending that was before me. I know I should have just finished the book, I was so close to the end, but I just couldnt. I didn't have it in me to continue reading a novel where I knew the main character would severely deteriorate, and as I am currently in a similar family situation (sort of), I just did not want to continue.

What I did read of the book however was remarkable. Seeing this bright young girl with hopes and ambitions take on a task she had never even considered before, and tackling everything that comes with it, was something I felt would relate to pretty much any type of reader. I also adored the relationship between Lou and Will, as well as the relationship between Lou and Wills' parents. They understandably have a lot to deal with, as well as bringing in someone new to care for Will, that also just wants to let him see the world in a way that he perhaps once knew, without all the backstory his parents had known. One issue I had with this however, was the way in which they deceived Lou into believing this was a position of care, rather than a position of persuasion. Obviously if she knew from the beginning what her role really was, then she would most likely have not taken the job. Maybe I am just being picky now, but I just had to get that off my chest!

To be fair to JoJo Moyes, the part of the book that I did complete, I absolutely lapped up. Her writing style kept me wanting more after each chapter. The way she developed her characters throughout the story was also interesting. I found myself becoming more and more attached to the characters and their “realness”, to the point where sadly I had to stop reading. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the novel and writing style, because I did, I just wasn't emotionally prepared for the books ending.

MY RATING

Overall, I feel this book deserves to be finished by me eventually. I'm rating it three out of five stars. Whilst I did enjoy the writing style, and the progression of characters, along with the reality of the backstories, I felt the direction in which the novel was heading was set up for heartbreak, and I just could not face that. It is most definitely a tear-jerker, if only I'd finished it.

BOOK THOUGHTS || ASSASSINS APPRENTICE - ROBIN HOBB

*** please note, this review may contain spoilers***

Summed up in a sentence? " A must for all of those too scared to jump into fantasy – a nice, steady paced novel that isn't too overpowering with the Sci-Fi/Fantasy elements!

SYNOPSIS

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated like an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill--and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

MY OPINIONS

So after putting this book off for months, I finally picked this up at the back end of the Christmas period (yes, I am so late to this review) and finished it in the New Year. I absolutely loved this book. Usually I dont enjoy world-building in novels, I tend to find them difficult to get through as they tend to be so long, but this managed to just captivate me in a way that left me wanting more.

The character develepments in this novel were brilliant. They allowed so much to happen, yet left a lot of the plot lines open for development in the future novels (this is the first in a number of trilogies that all link together). I particularly enjoyed the relationship journey between Fitz and the Fool, going from this odd, awkward jumble of actions and emotions, to two people who actually come to rely on eachother for the sake of their own sanity, and most likely their lives.

Now, we discover through the book that Fitz has something called 'The Skill'. This allows him to connect with animals through a link in their minds, amongst other things that Fitz has to get to grips with during this first novel. I really do hope he manages to develop the Skill throughout the future novels.

MY RATING

Overall, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I tend to say I am strict in my five star handouts (this is in fact a lie, I tend to hand them out like cake at a birthday party), but this is one novel I feel has truly deserved it. I never usually go for these kind of books, but Hobb has allowed me to feel like I can break that streak. A must for all of those too scared to jump into fantasy – a nice, steady paced novel that isn't too overpowering with the Sci-Fi/Fantasy elements!

REVIEW | Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

*** please note, this review may contain spoilers***

Summed up in a sentence?: "This book is definitely for lovers of YA, world-ending reads!

SYNOPSIS

One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in time—from the actor's early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as The Travelling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains—this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor's first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet. Sometimes terrifying, sometimes tender, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationships that sustain us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it.

MY OPINIONS

I absolutely adored this book. Whilst I'm a sucker for any kind of dystopian typically, this one stood out to me. There's nothing paranormal or creepy about characters, nobody has odd powers, it's just about a random selection of people throughout a number of locations who are all connected in one way or another. It just so happens, that these people are survivors of a potentially world-ending pandemic that has wiped out 99% of the population 48 hours after they first show symptoms. 

When we first delve into the novel, the scenes seem unimportant and somewhat unnecessary. However, these scenes are key to the future of the novel. This is something that is usually the case across all novels, and in this book in particular, we get to see something that enlightens our knowledge of one of the key characters of the novel.

The plot jumps between characters and time-zones after almost every chapter. For me, this is something that I really struggle to comprehend as a read. Why not just write the novel in chronological order following a chain of events? It just makes more sense that way! Whilst I thought this would bother me and become a nuisance throughout the book, it actually didn't bother me at all. In this novels situation, it is necessary and done very well, allowing us to learn about characters as if we are someone they are talking to for the first time, learning about their journey, how it began, and where they are hopefully headed. 

The character developments of Kirsten and Clark in particular are two that I appreciated the most in the novel. 

When we first meet Kirsten, she is no more than 8 or 9 year old, and acting in King Lear alongside a once-famous actor. After seeing him die on stage, and the events following afterwards - the pandemic - she then becomes one of the members of the Travelling Symphony, a company that travel from town to town spreading Shakespeares plays, trying their hardest to keep what little they have of the previous world alive. 

We see Kirsten go from one terrified young girl, to a woman that knows how to handle herself. She mucks in with the duties with the symphony, has her wits about her, and longs for nothing more than a normal life with no pandemic. 

Clark, is Arthers best friend from his education days, and is always the first to hear the latest on Arthers trials and tribulations, particularly when it comes to women. When he hears of his death, he begins the journey to his funeral, and just happens to bump into Arthers second wife Elizabeth, and their son Tyler, who are on the same flight. That flight just happens to be one of the last flights to depart on earth, as the pandemic strikes almost instantly after take off.

When the flight is diverted, with no hope of the journey being complete, realisation sets in, and Arthur makes a home for himself in the airport, along with several other passengers from diverted flights. Over the years, he collects little snippets in souveniors of life before the pandemic, and opens a museum in one of the lounges. Word spreads of this museum, which brings travellers from far and wide to see relics from the 'old world'.

Over the course of years we see different viewpoints to allow us to see a broad spectrum as to how the epidemic has effected people around the globe (or the US at least). This was something I found a little confusing now and again, but it was easy enough to pick up different journeys in each chapter.

MY RATING


Overall I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. Whilst I did really enjoy the book, I felt that it lacked a little something, and was slightly over-doing it in places that didnt need that.
This book is definitely for lovers of YA, world-ending reads!

REVIEW || The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

***This review may contain spoilers.***

SYNOPSIS

The Silkworm is the second book in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling), and picks up a few months after the end of the Lula Landry case in the first book.

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first she just thinks he has gone off by himself for a few days and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were published it would ruin lives - so there are a lot of people who might want to silence him.

And when Quine is found brutally murdered in bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any he has encountered before...

When we begin the novel, we learn that Strike's business is booming. Rich clients are seeking his help left, right and centre, and if they're willing to pay... well, Strike's the man for them! But when Quine's wife approaches him, you just know this case is going to be something different.

As Strike finds himself getting more and more invested in the investigation into Quine's disappearance, we find ourselves wrapped up in the literary goings-on of London, where everyone Strike comes across has something to say about Quine and his work - very few, if at all, good. This obviously makes the mystery behind his disappearance all the more interesting, and the list of suspects seems long at times.

However, when Strike gets wind of the new manuscript Quine had sent to his publisher - Bombyx Mori - the pieces start slowly but surely fitting together, making it perhaps the most intriguing case Strike has ever encountered.

MY OPINIONS

I adored this book. Taking it away on holiday (I had done this with The Cuckoo's Calling too) meant I knew I had the time to invest my time and attention to the book moreso than I would have done at home. 

Like I've mentioned once or twice before, I adore JK Rowlings works. Granted, I haven't read The Casual Vacancy, but it is certainly on my to-read list. So there was no doubt in my mind that I would have any ill-feelings towards this book. Whilst some may say I am perhaps heading into the book and plot-line with horse blinkers on, oblivious to those disliking her work - I'd say they may have a point, but having a high expectation of Rowling's work makes me appreciate it just a little bit more. 

The character developments between the previous book and this one seemed well thought out, almost like the author had lived their lives for them, documenting as she went. She definitely has a way with words that will captivate you, regardless of what you read. And considering what she writes in this novel, particularly the murder scene itself, is some-what gory compared to her HP days, I'd say she has her fine writing skills down to a T. 

I think the book reflects a number of issues the current literary world holds - particularly regarding the publishing side of things. You see involvement from literary critics, friends and publishers - both major and individual - just to name but a few bodies of the literary world. Highlighting the different roles involved in writing and publishing a book, is something I think needs to be done more in the book realms I believe. It certainly helps you understand and appreciate the thoughts, time and effort put into the books published and read. 

MY RATING

Overall, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. For me, it was almost perfect, but sometimes perfection is something that is always just out of reach. This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book - because that is definitely not the case - it just means I can go into the third book knowing what I want. 

And what is it I want? Well, I want a proper spark between Cormoran and Robin. They'd make the greatest couple as well as work team. 

Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

REVIEW || Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

*** please note, this review may contain spoilers***

BOOK THOUGHTS: STEALING SNOW

First of all, many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and also to Netgalley, for approving my request also!

I'm just going to put this out there, I've never read a Danielle Paige book prior to this one. As an avid reader and someone who seemingly adores fairytale re-tellings, you would think I'd have read some of her works by now. But, there's a first time for everything, and the plot line of this novel just drew me in.

"Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent her life locked in Whittaker Psychiatric—but she isn’t crazy. And that’s not the worst of it. Her very first kiss proves anything but innocent…when Bale, her only love, turns violent.

Despite Snow knowing that Bale would never truly hurt her, he is taken away—dashing her last hope for any sort of future in the mental ward she calls home. With nowhere else to turn, Snow finds herself drawn to a strange new orderly who whispers secrets in the night about a mysterious past and a kingdom that’s hers for the taking—if only she can find her way past the iron gates to the Tree that has been haunting her dreams.

Beyond the Tree lies Algid, a land far away from the real world, frozen by a ruthless king. And there too await the River Witch, a village boy named Kai, the charming thief Jagger, and a prophecy that Snow will save them all." (taken from Goodreads)

***

When Bloomsbury posted a tweet about this book, saying they had spare ARC's available, I never thought I'd actually get a copy. An ebook, maybe, as I tend to get things approved from NetGalley now and again, but never a physical copy. The fact that I got the physical copy was enough to keep me invested in the book, even just if it was to provide a review for those of you who read my blog.

***

MY OPINION:

This book was well thought out, even if the concept was a little bit typical in some places, and all over the place in others. There were a whole array of characters who just seemed to be there, not doing much. That being said, I was still captivated throughout the book. 

Whilst I was heading into this book expecting a Snow White retelling, it turned out it is actually a re-telling of The Snow Queen.  Now, I'm unfamiliar with this fairy tale, so each twist and turn in the book was unexpected, as I had no true idea of what the initial fairy tale entailed. However, I do think this worked in my favour, as whilst others may have had expectations regarding familiarity, I lacked them. 

One of the issues I struggled with, is that whilst Snow had a lot going on in her life, such as finding out who she really is, whilst trying to find childhood friend Bale in an alternative universe, there is also a love triangle. What is it with pretty much every YA novel having a love triangle? This wasn't exactly needed, considering Snow's feelings were made pretty clear as of page one. 

Overall, I believe the initial idea had a LOT of promise, most of which was not met.  As this is actually the first in a series - possibly a trilogy, I'm unsure - this makes sense, as it allows things to develop and flow a little better in further books.

***

MY RATING: 

TWO AND A HALF STARS

Have any of you read this book? If so, what are your thoughts? Or do you have any recommendations based off my review? Let me know in the comments below!