Showing posts with label audio review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label audio review. Show all posts

14 Aug 2023

Review: A RIVER ENCHANTED by Rebecca Ross (Elements of Cadence #1)

14 August 2 Comments

A RIVER ENCHANTED

Author: Rebecca Ross
Series: Elements of Cadence #1
Source: Audible
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: February 15, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: N/A

Summary:
Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t set foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind; plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instil fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls.

As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning: physical assault, kidnapping, raids, armed conflicts, loss of a parent.

A River Enchanted had some elements I really liked, and some that didn’t work for me at all, leaving me distinctly whelmed.

This was really slow to start and then picked up but it still felt off with the pacing. I think part of my lack of enjoyment stemmed from only one audiobook narrator for what felt like 100 different perspectives. It may have been more clear in the written text who we were following but it wasn't super clear in the audio which made me enjoy it less.

On the positive side, the setting is excellent, and Ross writes really nicely. Her prose is relatively straightforward but there’s a really strong sense of place, inspired by Scotland, with plenty of quaint cottages and a wild, rugged coastline. I also really liked the spirit-based magic system and the way that enchanted songs, clothing and weapons were incorporated into the storyline; magic, in Cadence, has a very clear price that must be weighed up. Some of the most compelling scenes involve Jack making choices about using his bardic talents to control the spirits, even as it begins to physically weaken him.

Additionally, the mystery of the missing children is well done. Some elements are rather predictable, but Ross slowly unravels the true extent of Jack and Adaira’s (the laird’s daughter) complicated family histories throughout the novel, and there is one twist I didn’t see coming that changes the whole dynamic in terms of the characters’ relationships. I’m on the fence about whether I’ll read the sequel, but the ending of this book does set up some rather interesting possibilities for what choices Jack and Adaira might make next in light of their newfound knowledge.

Where this book really fell down for me, however, is the key relationships and the pacing. Somehow, A River Enchanted managed to be both too short and too long. The first chapter tells us that Jack has a complicated relationship with the island of Cadence and with his mother, having been away at university on the mainland for ten years until he is summoned back. Within a chapter or two more, he’s already reconciled his feelings about all of these issues… and we still have 400 pages to go.

Similarly, this book has been pitched as an ‘enemies to lovers romance’, but… it’s not that. Based on how their relationship is laid out in the book, Jack and Adaira used to lightly tease each other as kids before being separated for ten years; any bickering now they have reunited could be described as friendly banter at best, which very quickly gives way to romance.

There is another romance between the older adults, Sidra (the local healer) and Torin (the chief warrior of the East), but it’s all very one-note. Sidra is the dutiful mother and healer, and Torin is a stock-standard emotionally stunted hero, and while they make efforts to overcome these tropes during the book, it wasn’t very compelling to me. The most interesting element that has the potential to change their relationship (a particular secret Sidra is hiding) isn’t even brought into play in the first half of this duology.

There’s plenty to like here, and those who like vibes over plot may well find some of the book’s weaknesses to be strengths instead. Unfortunately this one just didn’t quite live up to my hopes. But I look forward to the next book to see how things come together to conclude!

Have you read this book? Are you going to pick this up?

9 Aug 2023

Review: SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY by Kelly Quindlen

09 August 6 Comments

SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY

Author: Kelly Quindlen
Series: N/A
Source: Audible Plus
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: lesbian main characters, Indian-American main character, Black side character

Summary:
A familiar is a life-long companion. Choose wisely.

It's hard being the youngest in a family of witches known for their power. It's even harder when that magical power has all but passed you by.

Still, I was doing okay for myself. I like to think I was proving to the rest of my family that magic wasn't a requirement to living.

Then Aunt Opal was accused of murder. Wouldn't you know it would happen right when everyone else in the family but me was out of town.

Now it's up to me to prove her innocence, and a little magic could go a long way in helping me do that. My aunt's been after me to get a familiar for quite a while now. They are known for helping a witch channel her power and even strengthen it.

So, want to or not, allergies or not, I did it. I went to an animal shelter and found my familiar. A cute little black kitty. The allergy medicine companies were going to love me.

But for some reason, this little guy didn't make me sneeze. Kind of weird, actually. Not that I was complaining.

I just really wish I'd known more about him before I did the binding spell…
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning: Alcohol use (underage), Bullying, Harry Potter references, Homophobia, Microaggression

A super cute and charming lesbian sport romance! I thought the characters were well crafted and great with their inner conflicts. It was a cute ending, believable conflict, and had everything you'd want in a teen romance novel.

I picked up the audiobook, flew through it and really freaking liked it. I went into it thinking it was a romcom but what I got was much deeper. Yes, there is a hate to love romance, but there's also the exploration of grief, specifically grieving a relation, ESPECIALLY when you know that relationship wasn't good for you, grieving not only the relationship but also the parts of yourself you lost in it. Becoming someone you don't like, lashing out, because you're hurting and you don't know how else to be.

Another thing that I appreciated is the depiction of falling for someone while still healing from someone else and I LOVED the way the situation was handled. It surprised me in more ways than one.

But beside all of that, the friendships were lovely, the romance very cute, and the book was a good balance of funny and emotional.

I highly recommend this!

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7 Aug 2023

Review: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

07 August 1 Comments

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES

Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #0
Source: Audible
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: May 19, 2020

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: minor characters make reference to same sex partners

Summary:
It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning: Alcohol, Animal abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Childbirth (with complications), Death (including child and parental), Death by falling, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emesis, Eye removal, Gun violence, Hanging, Heart attack (mentioned), Loss of limbs, Poverty, Prostitution (mentioned), Rabies, Snakes, Starvation (mentioned), Suicide ideation, Torture, Violence.

I was pretty excited for a prequel - I did write my MA thesis on The Hunger Games so I am heavily invested in this series. I wanted something that was a real exploration of what it means to be President Snow and how we got to where we were in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games. We got that, but it was dull and overdrawn.

I really liked seeing where things were, the suggestions that led to the spectacle of the Games, and the initial aspects of Snow's character. I'm glad he wasn't a likeable protagonist or a likeable anti-hero, but just a self-serving asshole. I think there was some aspects of this that made it difficult to care about - we know that Snow becomes President and doesn't have to live with his "fate" of being on the cusp of losing his fortune. But it just didn't have high enough stakes.

I think if you really want to read this before the movie comes out, you should. But otherwise it's a miss.
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31 Jul 2023

Review: ALL TOO FAMILIAR by Belinda White (Accidental Familiar #1)

31 July 0 Comments

ALL TOO FAMILIAR

Author: Belinda White
Series: Accidental Familiar #1
Source: Audible Plus
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: July 31, 2019

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: N/A

Summary:
A familiar is a life-long companion. Choose wisely.

It's hard being the youngest in a family of witches known for their power. It's even harder when that magical power has all but passed you by.

Still, I was doing okay for myself. I like to think I was proving to the rest of my family that magic wasn't a requirement to living.

Then Aunt Opal was accused of murder. Wouldn't you know it would happen right when everyone else in the family but me was out of town.

Now it's up to me to prove her innocence, and a little magic could go a long way in helping me do that. My aunt's been after me to get a familiar for quite a while now. They are known for helping a witch channel her power and even strengthen it.

So, want to or not, allergies or not, I did it. I went to an animal shelter and found my familiar. A cute little black kitty. The allergy medicine companies were going to love me.

But for some reason, this little guy didn't make me sneeze. Kind of weird, actually. Not that I was complaining.

I just really wish I'd known more about him before I did the binding spell…
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning: pet allergies, death, murder (not graphic), use of a taser

I thought this was really cute and a good introduction to this series! I would have liked a bit more focus on the mystery portion and less on the romance aspects. There is a delicate balance in these types of cozy mysteries of the need to have the romance be cozy and the mysteries be interesting and I think this doesn't quite have that balance yet.

I thought it was interesting that the main character wasn't super powerful and that the mystery wasn't just waved away with magic. There was a slow development, but I liked that she is able to play to her strengths and using a tazer. I hope the next book has a bit more character development, especially for the side characters that we barely got introduced to.

This is also a very White, Straight book. That doesn't necessarily make it bad, but it does have the tropes of cops/investigators being "good guys" that you can "trust" when we know that isn't the case. Take that, and this genre, with a grain of salt when reading since one of the love interests is usually a cop.

I am interested in reading the rest of these, so we'll see how far into the series I get!

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17 May 2023

Review: LOVE, HATE & OTHER FILTERS by Samira Ahmed

17 May 0 Comments

LOVE, HATE & OTHER FILTERS

Author: Samira Ahmed
Series: N/A
Source: Audible Plus
Publisher: Soho Teen
Publication Date: January 16, 2018

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: Indian-American main character, Muslim main character, Hindu side characters

Summary:
A searing #OwnVoices coming-of-age debut in which an Indian-American Muslim teen confronts Islamophobia and a reality she can neither explain nor escape—perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Adam Silvera.

American-born seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home, and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and maybe (just maybe) pursuing a boy she’s known from afar since grade school, a boy who’s finally falling into her orbit at school.

There’s also the real world, beyond Maya’s control. In the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates alike are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning: Islamophobia, racism, threats, white supremacy, hate crimes.

This was such a cute, diverse contemporary that also didn't shy away from the harder topics like Islamophobia, racism and the pressure of parental expectations. I loved the Indian representation and the overbearing/caring parents, discussions of arranged marriages and cultural practices.

During the first half, I mostly went from really liking the voice to getting my hopes up with the romance to getting annoyed by the romance and the protagonist (Maya). Anyone who knows me is aware I will hardly ever complain about a book being romance-focused, but in this case, the romance didn’t work for me at all.

The fact that Phil had a girlfriend really irked me as the "reason" for the romance not to work. This ends up with having "someone" be the bad guy - and it's usually the other woman in the picture. So, yeah, the romance did not work for me. And the problem is, the romance was a HUGE part of this book. Like, much bigger than I expected it to be. From the blurb, I’d hoped to see a deeper approach on the islamophobia aspect, since it’s such an important topic. It was there, but it wasn’t as deep as I’d hoped.

But besides that, I really enjoyed this insightful story. It was crazy how things switched so easily after the terrorist attack. I really liked what Maya's mom said about them always, no matter what, being a scapegoat (the only good thing her mom said this entire book). Even though a lot of terrorist and otherwise terrible acts are committed by entitled, white supremacist white men, we really are still blaming Muslims for it, treating them as a scapegoat because nobody wants to admit to the fault of their whiteness, we are everyone's own worst enemy, the numbers there are overpowering and far above the number of people of colour we love to demonize.

Basically, this book broaches super important topics and you should definitely read it no matter what. Seriously, there's no excuse on this entire planet for leaving this book un-read, at all. You don't look at reviews and go "hmm this doesn't really spark my fancy," you should have just looked at the synopsis and seen what this book addresses and immediately set yourself up to read this. Educate yourselves.

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15 May 2023

Review: BURN OUR BODIES DOWN by Rory Power

15 May 0 Comments

BURN OUR BODIES DOWN

Author: Rory Power
Series: N/A
Source: Audible Plus
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: July 7, 2020

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: N/A

Summary:
From the author of the New York Times bestseller Wilder Girls comes a new twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery—until she decides to return to her mother’s hometown . . . where history has a tendency to repeat itself.

Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.

But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.

Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?

The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning:  Fire, Emotional abuse by a parent, including gaslighting. Familial and generational abuse, Nonconsensual pregnancy – note, no sexual assault or rape, Body horror, some gore, blood (lighter, relative to Wilder Girls), Death. On page character death. Child/infant death (takes place off page but implied violence – pages 301 and 308 in the print ARC), Off-page gun violence, Emesis (mention of vomiting).

This was a creepy read! I've been getting into a lot of ecological horror and dystopian fiction recently, so this fit in really nicely for that niche. I thought there was a lot of interesting power dynamics and things discussed in this novel, especially around single motherhood and socio-economics impacting lifestyles.

The writing itself is very good. There are no hiccups, no floundering about, and it flows smoothly. Rory Power gets to the point that she wants to make without beating around the bush. I really wanted to enjoy this story, however, and sometimes we want something so strongly that it slips away. I think it was mainly the pacing since a lot of the action was held off until the end.

While jumping around in the story and learning things slowly is an important factor in this book, and others like it, the novel took so long getting to the meat of the plot that I got slightly bored along the way. I didn't really connect with any characters except our lead because we didn't know their motivations and you're always so skeptical of everyone in these types of novels. 

Was the true horror and mystery of it all worth it when it finally arrived? Yes, it absolutely was. There is something sickening, twisted and disturbing about the history behind the horror of Margot's family. And for that, this book is well worth the read. That something so seemingly small would make me feel as uncomfortable as it did, speaks well for the way that the author unfolds it into the rest of the writing. But it arrived quite late, and developed far too fast for me to properly enjoy.

Burn Our Bodies Down has a Stephen King-esque vibe that hit me more than once, and I've noticed that other readers have felt the same. It's this nagging little thing at the back of your head that you notice here and there and can't let go of. I appreciated it, even if the whole of it fell a little more off the mark than I'd hoped.

There's merit to this novel, I just wish that more of those daunting details which pop up near the end and made me uneasy—while making everything charged and fraught with terrible possibility—had been delivered a little more starkly from the start.

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26 Apr 2023

Review: CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas

26 April 2 Comments

CONCRETE ROSE

Author: Angie Thomas
Series: The Hate U Give #0
Source: Indigo
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 12, 2021

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:

Representation: Black main characters

Summary:
International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.

Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.

When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters
Content Warning:  Racism, Coming out themes, Bimisia, Child neglect & parental abandonment, Recreational drug use, Substance addiction mentioned, Postnatal depression discussed, Teen pregnancy (theme), Abortion discussed, Grief & loss depiction, Death of a cousin, Death of a sister to sickle cell mentioned, Incarceration, Murder & attempted murder, Gun violence, Gang violence, Police brutality & violence mentioned.

CONCRETE ROSE is a prequel to the acclaimed debut novel THE HATE U GIVE. The book follows the story of 17-year-old Maverick Carter, the father of Starr from THUG, and his struggles growing up in a tough neighborhood while balancing his responsibilities as a son, father, and gang member.

The book has received critical acclaim for its raw portrayal of black male experiences, tackling issues such as toxic masculinity, poverty, and systemic racism. Critics have praised Thomas's writing for its authenticity and honesty, and the book has been hailed as an essential read for young adults.

I haven't read The Hate U Give, but I have seen the movie. I had SOME idea what was happening at the end of this book, but it still is a gut punch. Mav is such a relatable character, and Thomas writes him in such a way that you connect to him immediately.

Concrete Rose is a story of what it means to grow in the face of adversity and struggle, but never letting that break you. I loved this story, Thomas's writing, and the realistic look into what it means to be Black in America.

Thomas writes a realistic and authentic voice in Maverick and I loved seeing his journey from the beginning to the end. I thought it was a great story of mentorship and learning to take responsibility for your actions. Mr. Wyatt was definitely a scene stealer whenever he was around!

Overall, CONCRETE ROSE is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on important issues affecting marginalized communities. If you're looking for a well-written, impactful read, this book comes highly recommended.

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