Review: The Dream Walker

Book Rate: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date of Publication:  August 16th 2014

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Contemporary
Page Count: 120

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis (adapted from goodreads):

Miranda is having vivid dreams of a world she's never been to. A world full of castles, Forests, Ice Caves, and Dragons. She goes to a bookstore to see about these dreams, and discovers she is a Dream Walker. She has been called to save this mystical, magical world. 

On Mystica, the evil wizard Midnight has been released. Midnight is gathering an army, and preparing for war. Miranda needs to find and release the white wizard Lightning from his stone prison to save Mystica. Can she achieve this?

Review:

The Dream Walker made me check its goodreads page twice in the time it takes me to read 118 pages. Twice. I had to make sure this is definitely considered a young adult book before writing this review because it surely didn't feel like a young adult read to me...

Michelle Murray's writing style stroke me as oversimplistic and somewhat childish. There was a consistent storyline with beginning, middle and end, true! But I cannot say I got to know the characters and the world at all. After finishing The Dream Walker I feel like someone just showed me a map of the world and a diagram with the characters' names and relationships. Everything was described too quickly or not at all. The story was so fast-paced it seems like it didn't really happen.

Besides this I also found the characters to be a bit incoeherent and their behaviour unrealistic on some occasions. Just to give you an idea: if the situations I'm referring to and that are described in the book as non-fantasy situtations, happened in real life and I witnessed them I would be screaming "What the hell are you doing lady/sir???" at the top of my lungs.

If this was a Middle Grade book my review probably would have been very different in some aspects, but since it's not: here's my opinion of it as a Young Adult.

I'm sorry to admit I do not recommend The Dream Walker.

Review: Black Ice

Book Rate: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date of Publication:  October 27th 2014

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Drama
Page Count: 328

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis (adapted from goodreads):

David Fischer is slipping and he's hoping to meet the perfect girl in order to fix that. Meanwhile David finds his escape in alcohol and drugs.

Then David meets Kris, a mysterious, sexy older woman, and his world is changed. But David discovers that the mysteries of Kris' life may be darker than he's ready for. 

Review:

I think this is officially the book rating I felt more conflicted about so far in my reading life.

On one hand I felt like some parts of the plot were a bit exaggerated and that there were fascinating characters and intereting situations that could've been explored further and weren't. A quick example: David falls for a mysterious girl, Kris, by the end of the book we discover why Kris is so mysterious but throughout the story the reader doesn't get the chance to feel as wrapped up in her "mysterish" aura as could be.

On the other hand: Oh My Feels! Black Ice has one of the most perfect endings I've ever read! I won't give you a big and enthusiastic speech about it (even though I would love to) since this is a non-spoiler review but I'll tell you the following: at the start of this book I was stuck with the idea that this story was a good representation of how hard it can be to move on from you first love. I finished it realising not only that but also how important it is that you free yourself. If a person is keeps telling you how he/she wants you but also that they can't be with you right then, if you're stuck in a vicious cycle because you really like them and feel unable to move on, you have to realize that they will never let you go. They like having you there fully commited even thought they're not. You have to let go, you have to free yourself. And Black Ice presents the reader with an amazing prespective on this topic.

I loved it I loved it I loved it. The only reason I won't give the fifth star really only has to do with a bit of character/situation exploration that lacked in my opinion and could've made this book a perfect read.

Nevertheless it is still an amazing read and I strongly recommend it!

Review: The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen

Book Rate: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date of Publication:  May 20th 2015

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure
Page Count: 494

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis (from goodreads):

Reeling from a terrible accident that claimed the lives of his parents, Felix arrives at Portland College.

Here his reality star roommate shows him there is more to higher education than just classes, shared bathrooms and bad dorm food, and Felix gradually dares to believe he can put his past behind him.

But a fateful storm looms on the horizon: In the nearby woods, two hikers become the latest victims in a series of gruesome murders; a disfigured giant embarks on a vicious cross-country rampage, killing teenagers who fail his 'test'; and an ancient society of assassins tasked with eradicating the wielders of a mysterious source of power awakens after a long silence.

Only one man--the school's groundskeeper--knows that the seemingly unrelated events are connected, and that an eighteen-year-old boy stands in the center of the storm.
Review:

I'm pretty I'll be raving about this book for a little while...

The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen strikes me as a mixture of The Harry Potter Saga, a Stephen King's thriller and a college contemporary. You can relate to it an awful lot since there are a lot of "today's" references like Ke$ha, Taylor Swift, the Kardashians and The Hunger Games, so you really feel like the story happens in the world you live in. Which is great if you ask me.

The characters are great, incredibly realistic and smart and strong. They take precautions before jumping into dangerous situations which a lot of characters in other books don't do and always strikes as unrealistic. Felix, Allison and Lucas (my top favourite, to be honest) are great, though! They could go to my college! (I would be besties with Allison, no doubt!!!).

The plotline is gripping, a page turner really, and I'm praying there are more books coming because I can't leave this saga just yet. It's not the common storyline we are all so used to, it has it's unexpected twists and turns, which made this read so much greater for me.

If you're looking for a good long time bookis companion then this is it. The almost 500 pages and smallish letter will keep you submerged in a hot chocolate drinking and frantic reading delicious environment.

A perfect Autumn read in my opinion!

Review: Caroline Starts Over

Caroline Starts Over

By Randi M. Sherman

book rate: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) 

Publisher: FriesenPress

Date of Publication:  February 12th 2014

Genre: LGBT, Aduul Romance
Page Count: 256

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis provided (adapted):

After eighteen years of feigning contentment in an unfulfilling marriage, forty-eight year old Caroline Matthews is finally liberated when her husband dies suddenly. Caroline is determined to reclaim her life and attempts to turn back the clock to a time when she was carefree. Getting back her life isn’t as easy as Caroline had hoped. She’s two decades older, socially out of practice, and has nineteen-year-old twin daughters who don’t know about her past. Caroline orchestrates a reunion with a former lesbian lover, Rachel, whom she had a devastating break up with before marrying her late husband. Both curious, slightly shop-worn and lonely, the women foolishly rekindle their relationship. Old habits and buried feelings resurface as they attempt to navigate through this misguided romance. 

Is Caroline really as desperate as she seems? And did she play any part in the death of her husband?

Review:

I have such mixed feelings about this book.... Uuuuuuugh....

It stared off as funny and light read and it continued that way until BOOM! You read the last 5 pages.

Everything about Caroline Starts Over is very good: the writting style, the characters, the storyline... I just... Can't formulated a coeherent thought... It's like Veronica Roth's Allegiant all over again!!!

I don't want to spoil you guys so I'll be very vague and mysterious: read this book if you want to be surprised by an incredibly unexpected plot twist. But don't read this book if you're looking for characters to adore after you finish it. Caroline Starts Over will make you trust her and then shatter your trust all over the floor and swipe it under the rugh so you only notice in last second.

Review: Fresh Meat

Fresh Meat

By B. Bentley Summers

book rate: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) 

Publisher: Queer Sense Inc.

Date of Publication:  April 28th 2015

Genre: LGBT, Fantasy, Drama
Page Count: 376

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis provided (adapted):

It’s July 4, 2000, in Comer, Alabama. 

Three individuals with ties to torture, murder, and slavery are about to come together in an unexpected way. Old Soj is an African-American woman with family roots to slavery. Supernatural powers emerge for the umpteenth time in her life, and most interestingly, she has a recurring vision of a white thirteen-year-old boy whom she’s never met, telling her to “save the boy.” Warden E.J. Jones is a sadistic, psychopathic man who cruelly reigns over Arm Liom Prison. He and every inmate become mesmerized by a new young arrival known as Punk. 

On July 4, 2000, a powerful evil is awakening that cannot be stopped except by one force. Darkness and light are about to come face-to-face. 

Review:

I have a lot to say about this book so make sure you're comfortably seated.

Staring off by addressing what I considered to be the positive aspects of Fresh Meat, the wirting style is good good, very gripping, and the subject dealt with in the book was a great choice and I have to admit: it opened my eyes to some realities I wasn't aware of.

But then what were initially little problems became big ones during my reading experience with Fresh Meat.

It started as soon as the characters began being introduced: why the anagrams? I found them unnecessary and annoying since they made the names of most characters sound unrealistic.

Then a lot of scenes were repeated very often. I know they were repeated dreams or someone having the dream and thinking about the dream or the same scene viewed by different characters, but they were always told the same way. This made me want to skip a few pages many times and I would highly suggest shifting or mixing up things every time you repeat something because otherwise the reader will just find it a bit boring.

Then there is the main character Soj who is a 100% good woman and therefore 100% unrealistic too. I do believe it would have been so great it Soj could have a bit of bad or evil in herself and the book explored how she dealt with it!

And then there is E.J.'s redemption. He got to be redempted because he could have been a good man if not for the childhood traumatic experience he went through. But then so could have other inmates! Throughout the book we read everyone's story and all inmates had a traumatic childhood/juvenile experience that caused them to be the evil people they came to be. But if the waren can get redemption I think the other (or some of the other) inmates could have gotten it too, and not just be condemned like they were.

Overall I just believe Fresh Meat could have been a more interesting read if it had taken under consideratioj that every person has a bit of good and bad within themselves and we should be thaught how to deal with this, not aim to an unreachable ideal.

Review: Musical Chairs

Musical Chairs

By Sheila Levin

book rate: ★★★★★ (5/5) 

Publisher: First Edition Design Publishing

Date of Publication:  December 4th 2014

Genre: Adult Romance, Politics, Drama
Page Count: 262

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis provided (adapted):

Politics - Sex - Scandal - Secrets - Money

In a high-stakes game of musical chairs, there can be only one winner. Roberta Palmer, newly widowed supermodel and Marcia Baker, New York congresswoman are getting ready for the fight of their lives: both are running against each other in the primary for the democratic candidate of the NY senate race. Marcia’s ex-lover, Jake Rubin and Roberta’s step-daughter, Joan Palmer both hold secrets that could mean political suicide for both women. As the secrets threaten to surface which woman will be left standing when the music draws to a close?

Review:

Wow, what a surprise!

I tried to keep an  open mind when starting this book but I had this feeling I would be bored to the bones with all the politics talk and so on... I was dead wrong.

Musical Chairs brings us excellent characters, they are incredily realistic, flawed in the right way and with good sense and rational thoughts but they are also giving very moving life stories and, some of them, even inspiring personalities. (I had a few favourite characters but in an effort to not spoil your reading I will keep to myself. If you're interested anyway leave a comment down below and I will discuss it with you!)

Additionaly the storyline  is very consistente and interesting, it's a book that keeps you wanting to reach the final page and unveil all the secrets. Musical Chairs explores politics yes, but not in a boring way, it keeps you interested and also gives you some knowledge on the subject in case, like myself, you didn't have. It also explores the marital life - good and bad sides - and how these relationships can evolve - flourishing or dying.

Musical Chairs was a very different read but very good nonetheless. Reccomend if you would like to try a different reading subject!

ARC Review: Good Intentions

Good Intentions

By Pembroke Sinclair

book rate: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Series: The Road to Salvation

Publisher: Booktrope Editions

Release Date: July 28th 2015

Genre: Young Adult; Paranormal Romace
Page Count: 190

Source: We received a copy of this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

Katie has been through Hell—literally—and discovered that it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. In fact, she kind of enjoyed it. She got to be with Josh, found out about her past, and discovered who she wanted to be as a person. Katie didn’t care that her actions went against social norms. She was happy.

But things are changing—again. Wes has come back into her life, and that can only mean trouble. His presence threatens to unravel her new-found happiness. She can’t allow that. She won’t let him back in. Yet, Katie can’t push him away. 

Thrown back into a state of confusion and uncertainty, Katie is once again forced to pick sides, and in the process, she may lose herself.

Review:

Reading a book is an individual experience and therefore two people reading the same book will always have different reading experiences (and the derived feelings and opinions regarding the book). This happened very clearly to me and Isabel while reading Good Itentions.

Isabel points out her discomfort with the writting style, as we have referred in our review of book two, Dealing With Devils, the main character Katie keeps asking questions to herself in her head in a way we didn't consider very natural...

Secondly Isabel was enjoying this series mainly because the main characters weren't the typical type, the female protagonist wasn't a heroine and the male protagonist was a demon capable of loving and worthy of being trusted. Good Intentions disappointed Isabel because in this book Katie choses "the good side" and the demon betrays her showing therefore that he is a typical demon.

I personally only disliked two aspects about this book. Firstly it was slow-paced, there wasn't as much action as I would expect for the conclusion of a triology. Second and lastly, there were a lot of "repetitive thoughts" - as in the characters keeps thinking the same thing and the reader keeps being told that she/he is thinking that - which isn't necessarily bad because it's an excellent way for the reader to accompany the character's development and changes of mind more closely, but I would suggest formulating the thoughts differently so as not to sound so repetitive.

To wrap up we will leave the messages each of us took from reading Good Intentions and also what made us warm up to this story. Isabel enjoyed the "Be careful with who you trust" message and I loved the "You always have a choive; no matter how far you've gone, you can always change paths" message.

Congratulations Pembroke Sinclair on writing this triology, thank you for giving us the opportunity to review it and good luck with future projects!